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3232BREAKING: Ethan Peck Cast As Spock On ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 2https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/14/breaking-ethan-peck-cast-as-spock-on-star-trek-discovery-season-2/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/14/breaking-ethan-peck-cast-as-spock-on-star-trek-discovery-season-2/#commentsTue, 14 Aug 2018 17:17:09 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=57159The search for Spock is over! Ever since the news hit that Spock would appear in the second season of Star Trek: Discovery, fans have been waiting for casting news on who would play the iconic character. Now we have it. CBS has just announced that Ethan Peck, the grandson of movie star Gregory Peck, has been cast in the role.

In a statement, Discovery co-creator and executive producer Alex Kurtzman described the casting journey:

Through 52 years of television and film, a parallel universe and a mirror universe, Mr. Spock remains the only member of the original bridge crew to span every era of Star Trek. The great Leonard Nimoy, then the brilliant Zachary Quinto, brought incomparable humanity to a character forever torn between logic and emotion. We searched for months for an actor who would, like them, bring his own interpretation to the role. An actor who would, like them, effortlessly embody Spock’s greatest qualities, beyond obvious logic: empathy, intuition, compassion, confusion, and yearning. Ethan Peck walked into the room inhabiting all of these qualities, aware of his daunting responsibility to Leonard, Zack, and the fans, and ready to confront the challenge in the service of protecting and expanding on Spock’s legacy. In that spirit, we’re thrilled to welcome him to the family.

A different Spock

Although this is the first official casting announcement for the new Spock, cast and creators for the Discovery spoke at length about the return of the character at San Diego Comic-Con last month.

The Spock that we meet is ten years [before Star Trek: The Original Series]. So, he is not formed in the same way that he is formed by the time you get to TOS. What we will learn is a lot of what made him the Spock that he was and what will make him the Spock he is, has to do with his family and his sister.

According to the producers and actors, a big part of the second season will have to do with family and specifically the relationship between Spock, and Michael Burnham who was adopted by Spock’s parents Sarek And Amanda. Sonequa Martin-Green explains:

We are going to be really digging into that relationship, and digging into a lot of family dynamics in season two. And not just in that family between Burnham and Spock and Sarek and Amanda, but also with the entire crew.

Where is Spock in season two?

Spock did not appear in the season two first look trailer released at Comic-Con last month but his name was mentioned a few times. The trailer established that at the start of the season Spock has taken leave of his post on the USS Enterprise, and we even see Michael Burnham visiting Spock’s empty quarters.

Michael Burnham explores Spock’s empty quarters

The brief trailer indicates Spock’s leave is tied to the mystery which drives the season and was the reason behind Pike taking command of the USS Discovery. In the trailer, Pike describes they mystery of seven unknown signals spread through the galaxy, which they will investigate. Burnham is also seen in the trailer talking to Saru saying “Spock is linked to these signals, and he needs help.”

Burnham talks to Saru about Spock in the Discovery season 2 first look trailer

Nimoys salute Peck

Shortly following the announcement, the actor posted a photo of himself on Instagram along with Leonard Nimoy’s son and daughter Adam and Jule, along with their spouses Terry Farrell and David Knight. Peck noted:

Beyond all logic, beyond what I thought was possible, I find myself in this reality. It is with great honor and a sense of immense responsibility that I take on the iconic role that Leonard gave to us and that Zachary did brilliant justice to. Thank you Adam Nimoy, Julie Nimoy, Terry Farrell and David Knight for your open arms, warm welcome, smiling curiosity, support, for making me feel worthy, as I embrace and take into my heart the half alien we know as Mr. Spock.

Started acting in 1995

Peck, who is 32, actually got his start in the mid-nineties as a child actor. He had a starring role in the ABC family sitcom 10 Things I Hate About You. More recently he has had recurring roles in Madam Secretary and Gossip Girl, along with a number of other guest roles. As a child actor, he appeared twice in That ’70s Show as a young Michael Kelso (the role played by Ashton Kutcher).

Ethan Peck as Patrick Verona on the TV series 10 Things I Hate About You

As noted before, Peck comes from Hollywood royalty as the grandson of legendary Academy Award-winning actor Gregory Peck. In the 2016 interview with the actor below, you can see and hear him talking about his career and following in his grandfather’s footsteps.

Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery will premiere in early 2019.

Star Trek: Discovery is available exclusively in the USA on CBS All Access. It airs in Canada on Space and streams on CraveTV. It is available on Netflix everywhere else.

Speaking at STLV18, writer Mike Johnson described the story of Succession as a power vacuum that gets very “Game of Thrones-y,” with all of the characters left following the events in the Mirror Universe in the first season of Discovery, vying for the throne of the Terran Empire. Now that we’ve come to the end of what I called the “tie-in we never thought we needed”, I’d say Mike had that pretty spot on. He was also right when he said “It’s pretty bloodthirsty. That’s why the mirror universe is great.”

While the Mirror Universe can sometimes be dismissed as a place populated with “evil twins,” where everything is just the opposite of what we are used to, this series throws that theory out of the airlock because these characters have depth. For example, in Succession L’Rell is an idealistic revolutionary and Mudd is the benevolent champion of the poor and powerless. Johnson and Beyer also find room to play with and develop characters that barely get any exploration on the TV series, such as the bridge crew, although now it appears that we’ll be learning more about their prime counterparts in season two.

Johnson and Beyer’s Mirror Universe sets the stakes high and everyone is fair game. That’s why this story is so exciting to read. Of course, it makes sense that the Mirror Universe would be like Game of Thrones. If the best way to move up in rank is to kill your superior officer, the infighting would be endless.

This is a minor spoilers only review, but if you’re “dying” to know how it ends, check out our earlier preview of this issue with spoilers about the ending you’ll never see coming. IDW editor Chase Marotz said it best, “it’s one of the best endings to a mini-series we’ve ever done.” It’s rare that you can shock an audience these days because most people have seen pretty much everything. In the case of Succession, you will genuinely be surprised.

It’s going to be really interesting to see how this all unfolds. Is the new Emperor at the end of this series the same one in “Mirror, Mirror?” Will that be addressed? I will say that with so many twists and turns, this is easily one of the best Trek series in years. As long as Johnson and Beyer are at the helm, Discovery comics are in good hands.

5-page preview

Click thumbnails to enlarge

Issue #4 Available now, collection in November

Star Trek: Discovery: Succession #4 was released Wednesday, August 1st. It retails for $3.99. You can order it at TFAW with a discount, including 2 different variant covers.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/13/review-mirror-burnham-faces-her-destiny-in-star-trek-discovery-succession-4/feed/1Exclusive: Wilson Cruz Promises Exploration And An Epic Love Story In ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 2https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/13/exclusive-wilson-cruz-promises-exploration-and-an-epic-love-story-in-star-trek-discovery-season-2/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/13/exclusive-wilson-cruz-promises-exploration-and-an-epic-love-story-in-star-trek-discovery-season-2/#commentsTue, 14 Aug 2018 01:46:09 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=57144TrekMovie had the chance to chat with some of the cast of Star Trek: Discovery at the Star Trek Las Vegas convention, including actor Wilson Cruz. We talked about the mysterious return of his Dr. Hugh Culber, how season two is different and how Cruz was impacted by fan reaction’s to the death of Culber in season one. We have highlights and full video of the interview below.

Discovery will be exploring in season two

Wilson Cruz assessed how the tone of the second season of Star Trek: Discovery will be different by talking about what we will see more of this time around:

We are not in wartime, so I feel the stories are not as dark. I feel there is more humor this season, there is more room for that. There is more exploration of the universe. So, in that way, it is a more forward looking season.

Wilson Cruz as Dr. Hugh Culber in season one of Star Trek: Discovery

Season two allows time to mourn

Wilson Cruz would not get into details on how his character returns from the dead in the second season and would only vaguely agree that Hugh Culber in some way helps Stamets cope with the loss of Culber. But, Picking up on what Anthony Rapp said in his STLV TrekMovie.com interview, the actor talked about how season two will allow Stamets the time to finally reflect on that loss:

We were at war last season and although it was heartbreaking for him to know that his partner was killed in such a violent and unneccessary way, we had a moment in the mycelial network where we were kind of able to kind of say goodbye in a way. And he had to finish the war. They had to finish the war, so it didn’t give him enough time to mourn. I think it is fair to say, he will have an opportunity to do that, come season two.

Stamets never had time to mourn in season one, but will in season two

Payoff to epic love story is coming

When asked about fan reaction to the death of Culber in season one, Cruz made a pledge about what is coming in season two:

I heard a lot about it. I felt terrible, except for the fact that it was really good storytelling and I knew where the story was going and I knew that was a neccessary part of where we were about to go. So, it was immediate pain for a really great payoff later, I promise.

The actor also added some context to the character’s death:

I have to say – I get emotional thinking about it – I was very moved by the way fans have reacted to me and that character and the way they reacted to his murder. It broke my heart in many ways. But I knew things they did not, which is why it was so important to me to go out and reassure fans, as soon as it happened, to let them know it was the end of a chapter and not the end of a story. We were promising them an epic love story and part of an epic love story is heartbreak. There has to be some of that. Peaks and valleys, all relationships are made up of it.

Watch the full interview with Wilson Cruz

More STLV

We have one more interview from STLV coming up, so stay tuned. Click here to see all of our STLV coverage to date.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/13/exclusive-wilson-cruz-promises-exploration-and-an-epic-love-story-in-star-trek-discovery-season-2/feed/33Meet The Winners Of The 2018 Star Trek Las Vegas Costume Contest + More STLV Cosplayhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/12/meet-the-winners-of-the-2018-star-trek-las-vegas-costume-contest-more-stlv-cosplay/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/12/meet-the-winners-of-the-2018-star-trek-las-vegas-costume-contest-more-stlv-cosplay/#commentsMon, 13 Aug 2018 03:25:42 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=57069One of our final articles for our coverage of Star Trek Las Vegas focuses on who it is all about, the fans, and specifically the cosplaying fans. We have details on the annual costume contest, including talking with some of the winners. In addition to photos from the contest, we have also curated some of the great cosplay seen around STLV all weekend.

Cosplayers lined up for the costume contest, along with some Star Trek celebrity judges (Photo: Eriel Nash)

Clint Wilder won Best in Show when he stunned the audience with his Firewolf (aka Mirror Voq) costume from Star Trek: Discovery. He was inspired long before STLV, “I really enjoy the new Star Trek Discovery and I thought it was a perfect opportunity to get cracking on it before the convention…I dove in, I spent about six weeks, got it made, here we are!” Wilder’s wife Amy also entered the contest as Captain Killy. Clint noted, “The family that cosplays together stays together.”

2018 costume contest winner Clint Wilder (Photo: Rich Miles)

Mahogany Harris won the Discovery special category in her Mirror Universe Michael Burnham costume, “…the overall thing took me three months to make. The chest plate and shoulder pieces and my knife were all made of worbla with foam underneath.” One of the hallmarks of her costume was the accouterments and props, “The belts and holster were made out of vinyl with craft foam on top for texture as well and that was all acrylic paint with a sealer applied over top.”

Bill Arucan and Jennifer Rough won the Deep Space Nine special category as Tosk and Hunter from the episode “Captive Pursuit.” Jennifer’s husband Michael helped in the construction and shared why they chose this unique costume, “We really liked the episode…we haven’t seen any Hunter-Tosk combinations in the con and we’ve been going for ten years now.” When we asked Jennifer about the comfort of the costume she replied with a laugh, “It’s hot! There’s not a lot of airflow, but it’s always fun to be a different character.”

Veteran cosplayer Chad Buffett won Best in Captain Class as Kol from Star Trek: Discovery. Chad recalled that during STLV 2017 someone remarked that the Klingons of Star Trek: Discovery would be too hard to cosplay and thus cosplayers would dislike the new design. Chad saw this as an opportunity to take on a challenge as well as diversify his costume collection, “I took that personally as a challenge to actually create the costume plus it was time for a new costume.”

Chad Buffett came in second as Kol (Photo: Rich Miles)

Anthony Polito from California amazed the judges with his Tholian costume. winning Best in Lieutenant Class. The construction took about a year and involved styrofoam, joint hinges, and LED lighting.

Anthony Polito came in third with this Tholian costume (Photo: Michael Nguyen)

Rounding out the winners for 2018 was Jason Winningham who won Best in Ensign Class with his creative Discovery costume of a Tardigrade and trainer.

More STLV 2018 Cosplay

The costume contest is just part of the overall cosplay from Star Trek Las Vegas. Fans come every day in costume, some with multiple costumes over the weekend. We saw a lot of creative outfits over the weekend. Below are some organized group shots along with more of our favorites.

Discovery cosplayers group (Photo: Christine Rideout)

Deep Space Nine group (Photo: Christine Rideout)

Mirror Universe group (Photo: Christine Rideout)

Disco shirt group (Photo: Christine Rideout)

More Star Trek cosplay

Mashups and other franchises

More STLV

We have a couple more interviews from STLV coming up, so stay tuned. Click here to see all of our STLV coverage to date.

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https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/12/meet-the-winners-of-the-2018-star-trek-las-vegas-costume-contest-more-stlv-cosplay/feed/16Exclusive: Anthony Rapp Says Captain Pike Sets Lighter Tone For ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 2https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/12/exclusive-anthony-rapp-says-captain-pike-sets-lighter-tone-for-star-trek-discovery-season-2/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/12/exclusive-anthony-rapp-says-captain-pike-sets-lighter-tone-for-star-trek-discovery-season-2/#commentsSun, 12 Aug 2018 22:35:06 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=57068TrekMovie had the chance to chat with some of the cast of Star Trek: Discovery at the Star Trek Las Vegas convention, including actor Anthony Rapp. We talked about the tone of the show in the second season and what’s next for Paul Stamets after the dramatic events impacting him in the last episodes of the first season. We have highlights and full video of the interview below.

Discovery and Stamets emerge from the darkness

Rapp acknowledged that the first season of Discovery had a darker tone than typical Star Trek, but he put that into context:

So much of the darkness was informed by the fact that our captain was from the Mirror Universe. Everything was geared toward telling that story. And how do we reach our ideals, sometimes you have to go through darkness to come out and realize what you really hold up to be true. So, yes it was unfamiliar in some ways, but it was still ultimately steeped in the tenets and beliefs in this universe, always. Going to humanity’s higher purpose. But, yes, it was unusually dark.

And he promised a lighter tone for the second season, led by Anson Mount’s introduction as Captain Pike:

So in [season two] we have moved through this and come out the other side. Pike is sort of an exemplary captain. He is exactly the kind of familiar Starfleet captain you would always want. And I think that alone sets such a different tone. And yes, there is certainly more humor, but there is also this settling that happens after all the craziness of season one and all the massive events. Now, in season two, so much of it gets to settle and we get to deal with it. And there is time and space for all of that, which is really satisfying.

Specifically, regarding his character of Paul Stamets, Rapp said that Stamets will have that time and space to deal with the trauma he went through due to the loss of Hugh Culber in season one:

It’s been really satisfying that it’s not in any way that is cliché or typical. It feels specific and human and true to Stamets, and I’ve been really grateful that the writers have given me that kind of material to work with.

Stamets and Tilly share a moment from the season two first look trailer

Inspired by Patrick Stewart

Rapp, who considers himself a big fan of Star Trek, talked about what it was like for him to witness the big announcement of a new Jean-Luc Picard Star Trek show :

I was in the room when Sir Patrick Stewart announced … that “Jean-Luc Picard is back,” and that was thrilling, and it was also thrilling to see how moved he was and inspired he was. You know, he has been around the block and had tremendous success and to see someone as accomplished as him still have his heart and soul deeply affected was really meaningful and inspiring.

When asked how he felt being part of the Star Trek family and how it is said that once you join you have work for life, Rapp spoke about the richer benefits of being part of the franchise:

[Work for life as Star Trek celebrity is] a great side benefit, for sure, but if it was for doing something that didn’t have meaning or it was … just cashing in … if it wasn’t linked to something that had meaning and heart and soul, it wouldn’t be such a cool thing after all. It is amazing to be part of something that resonates so powerfully.

Ready to snack on Short Treks

Rapp could not confirm if he was going to appear in any of the four Star Trek: Short Treks mini-episodes, which will start running this fall leading up to the season two premiere of Discovery in early 2019. However, he did offer some thoughts on what they are going to be like:

I do know that there is some really cool stuff. I am personally really excited about it, ’cause I think it’s a great new way to explore the world and the characters. I think it’s the perfect little – like, I don’t know, you know when you go to a nice fancy restaurant and they bring you those little treats before the meal? It’s like that. It’s like a really satisfying thing that doesn’t fill you up, but gets you ready for the meal.

The actor also noted that even though Short Treks are indeed short, they still have a lot of effort put into them, saying:

I think it’s really smart, and it also shows a tremendous commitment on the part of CBS and all the creative team. Even though they are short, they are still a lot of work and take a lot of resources. I think it is tremendous that they are giving so much life and energy and creativity, to telling all these stories.

Watch the full interview with Anthony Rapp

More STLV

We have a couple more interviews from STLV coming up, so stay tuned. Click here to see all of our STLV coverage to date.

Season two will reveal more about characters, including Detmer’s implant

A fan asked if the second season of Discovery would reveal more backstory about the bridge crew. Without wanting to give away much, both Emily Coutts and Sara Mitich said “Yes.” When specifically asked if Detmer’s implant is related to the Borg, the actress did give some details about what we will learn in season two:

It is an original. It is not a Borg piece. You guys will learn more about that soon…It will be explored a little bit more. I know there is not a ton of information on it right now.

Emily Coutts at Star Trek Las Vegas 2018

Moderator Matt Mira jumped in and said he assumed it was due to how she got injured during on the USS Shenzhou during the Battle of the Binary Stars and the implant was used to “put her back together,” to which Coutts replied:

Yeah, it is a healing…That is pretty much it, actually.

Emily Coutts as Keyla Detmer, with her implant

Doug Jones has taken Sara Mitich under his wing

Sarah Mitich talked about the process of being transformed into Lt. Commander Airiam and how prosthetics veteran Doug Jones (Saru) has been a big help:

They have got it down to about two hours…I think the makeup is phenomenal. I had never done anything like this before. I had never done prosthetics for Halloween, not for anything. Doug Jones, he was one that took me under his wing. As all of you know, he is king.

Sara Mitich at Star Trek Las Vegas 2018

Mitich went on to talk about how the makeup team takes care of her.

It took some time getting used to and how everything works and I had a lot of questions and they always answered them. And James [MacKinnon] and Hugo [Villasenor] and Chris [Bridges] and Shane [Zander] and everyone in the group who does it is so professional and great, that they take the best care of me.

Sarah Mitich as Lt. Commander Airiam in season one finale of Star Trek: Discovery

Rekha reveals deleted scene that gives context to Landry’s death

One fan seemed perplexed by the decision-making of Commander Landry when she dropped the forcefield, unleashing Ripper the tardigrade and getting herself killed. Actress Rekha Sharma revealed that a deleted scene would have helped add context to Landry’s state of mind:

What they were exploring, which may not have been totally clear. There was a scene that was cut that showed my very complicated relationship with Lorca. Basically he had me wrapped around his little finger and things were getting very, very intense. And I was going to do what ever I could to make my captain happy and to do what I could do to try and save my people.

Rekha Sharma at Star Trek Las Vegas 2018

But, Sharma went on to agree, Landry was not thinking straight:

From the point of view of the story, of course it was a terrible decision. But you know when you think you have a good idea, but you have narrow tunnel vision because you are so scared, and you make terrible decisions because you are in your own little world? Well, that is what Landry did.

Landry telling Lorca she will do “Anything, anytime, Captain”

Sam doesn’t share the same fond memories of Sonequa

Some of the actresses talked about how much they have picked up working with Sonqua Martin-Green. Emily Coutts noted “the way she runs the set as the leading woman is the greatest gift to watch, she brings us all together” with Rekha Sharma agreeing, calling Sonequa a “queen” and drawing a favorable comparison to how Edward James Olmos led the cast when she was on Battlestar Galactica. Sam Vartholomeos then interjected some sarcasm into the love fest, quipping:

I am just going to jump in. I don’t have very fond memories of Sonequa.

Sam Vartholomeos at Star Trek Las Vegas

With a nod to how his character has died violently on the show twice, arguably at the hands of Martin-Green’s character both times, Vartholomeos deadpanned:

I have no idea what these fine women are talking about. I don’t want to be in an elevator with her. I don’t want to be in a room with her. She texted me today to invite me out to dinner, I said “Nope!” Listen to them, but have that in the back of your mind. You see her in an elevator…

Star Trek makes Oyin try to be a better person

A fan opened up with a question to Oyin Oladejo saying it meant a lot to her to see so many women of color on the show and women with natural hair, and she wondered if the actress had to fight to keep her hair for the show. Oladejo said she was actually ready to change her style, but there was no need:

I had my sides shaved prior to me getting this job. I came on set and realized Emily [Coutts] had her sides shaved. But because I had my sides shaved and I had my hair twisted, I think they went with that look. They tried to accommodate us. There was no fight, whatsoever. I was willing to do whatever, if they wanted to shave my head I was willing to do that, but it was easy.

Oyin Oladejo at Star Trek Las Vegas 2018

In response to a question from a fan about what they learned from Star Trek since starting working on the show, Oladejo gave a heartfelt answer about how the show has changed her:

When reading the scripts, you feel such a connection to it that the longer you do it and the longer you are on set and the more you spend time with the family and the more you spend time with the scripts, on some level you are forced to try to be a better human being. Because, the show demands that of you as an actor. Then you go away and are like “Oh shit, I have to live up to this.” I know it is TV and fictional, but I want to be a better person. I say these lines and hear people say these lines and then we go and wrap after twelve hours and you forget about it, but there is something that remains the next day. On some level you are forced to try to be a better person and Star Trek does that.

Oyin Oladejo as Joann Owosekun in Star Trek: Discovery

Singing and dancing on the disco set

The group talked about life on the set a few times, discussing how they keep things light. Emily Coutts talked about how director Jonathan Frakes saw parallels with the notoriously boisterous set of Star Trek: The Next Generation:

When Jonathan Frakes was directing he was like “Ah, this reminds me of the good old days, back on the bridge shenanigans.” And that is kind of like what it is. You get so deliriously tired that eventually you start singing. Saru gets his long legs up there on the captain’s chair and it is a good old time.

This subject of singing on set came up again, when a fan asked about set pranks, with Coutts revealing:

I don’t think it is pranks, but a lot of singing and dancing. Doug Jones [spearheads the singing]. He is going to get his own show.

And in reference to the dancing, a fan asked if they would back up Shazad Latif’s claim that he is the best dancer in the cast, and in reply, Mitich talked about a scene recently shot:

I don’t know about dancing, but we were shooting recently and [Shazad] pretended to jump out of the front window of the bridge, that was pretty crazy.

Both Mitich and Coutts also talked about how they deal with boredom in scenes when they have no dialog:

Sara Mitich: I know for myself what my buttons are. I made it up in my mind. So, when it is black alert I am going to hit these three buttons and hold this thing like this.

Emily Coutts: I try to create these weird games because there is a lot of automated things, but I like to get it at the right time so it is actually me doing it. And there are numbers that roll, but they stop at weird places, like 177. And I’m like “OK, I’m going to tap it when it gets to 177.”

More STLV 2018

We still have a bit more content coming from Star Trek Las Vegas, so stay tuned for more. Click here to see all of our STLV coverage to date.

All photos by Andrew Britton/TrekMovie.com

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/11/stlv18-star-trek-discovery-supporting-bridge-cast-promise-more-character-revelations-in-season-2/feed/20STLV18: Ron D. Moore talks Star Trek, Franchise Fatigue, Writing Process, And Morehttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/10/stlv18-ron-d-moore-talks-star-trek-franchise-fatigue-writing-process-and-more/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/10/stlv18-ron-d-moore-talks-star-trek-franchise-fatigue-writing-process-and-more/#commentsSat, 11 Aug 2018 01:57:46 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=57040The Star Trek writer from the “golden era” of Next Generation and Deep Space Nine and showrunner of his own successful TV shows returned to Star Trek Las Vegas this year. He spoke on a number of topics including being a showrunner, what makes a good story, the role of social media in today’s TV writing, and of course his time on TNG and DS9.

Ron D. Moore talks with Creation’s Adam Malin

Star Trek was ready for change after Enterprise

One of the best moments in Moore’s panel came at the end when a fan asked a question about the dreaded concept of Star Trek franchise fatigue.

When you say something like franchise fatigue it means that, to me, it means that particular flavor had run dry, essentially, to mix my metaphors, essentially that way of doing Star Trek, that way of telling story, and those kinds of stories had run its course. You could just see in the shows, it had fatigue, it was tired. It wasn’t really engaging any more or felt like it was just standing in place. Then it gets reinvented, and then you bring in new people, and you bring in new ideas, and you change up the parameters, and then it all gets reinvigorated again. So, it’s not so much about volume, it’s not really about how many shows there are, it’s really about are you able to still engage the audience and make it seem fresh and exciting. Once you’re in the same place and doing the same show time after time after time, which is what the Star Trek franchise started to feel like by the time that Enterprise ended, it just felt all the same and it didn’t feel new. Then it’s time for a big change, then it’s time to go fallow for a while and plant the ground all over again.

The Trek franchise today

Moore continued to address the fan’s concern that perhaps the news that CBS is interested in some form of Trek content on All Access year-round would lead to a new franchise fatigue:

Where you are now it’s like, Okay it’s all been reinvented, it looks completely different, the style is very different, the stories are different, so it doesn’t feel like you’re in danger of franchise fatigue just because there’s a lot of them coming out. If they’re all the same or if they just start becoming the same meal over and over again, then you’ll run into fatigue and they’ll have the same problems.

Piller fostered the writer’s room

Michael Piller was brought in during the third season of Next Generation to lead the writers’ room. His new blood and his willingness to take risks on young writers fostered an environment like no TV show before it. Piller went on to co-create Deep Space Nine and Voyager as well as write Insurrection.

Michael was an extraordinary guy, I’ve never met anyone quite like him. Michael was truly guileless, he really honestly had no agendas, had no secret things he was trying work you, he pretty much told what we told you is how he felt – sometimes you didn’t want hear how he felt. He was a mentor and really cared about bringing up inexperienced people like me, Brannon Braga, René Echevarria and Naren Shankar. Michael mentored all of us and he was always looking for ways to give people an opportunity to succeed. He was a sweet lovely man. He was a character, he always wore his LA Dodgers baseball cap consistently around the office.

Michael Piller and Rick Berman on the set of DS9

Proud Deep Space Nine pushed Trek’s boundaries

After writing the Trek film First Contact with partner Brannon Braga, the two went on to different Trek shows. Moore made his mark on Deep Space Nine, where he stayed until the end of the series.

It’s hard to believe it’s 25 [years old]. That was a tremendous experience. I always think that for me, The Next Generation was like going to college for television writing, and then graduate school was Deep Space Nine.

Our determination on that staff to push the boundaries of Star Trek, to sort of challenge your assumptions of what Trek was and what it was not. To go serial as much as we could, to make the characters more complicated, to have more ambiguous storytelling, to do challenging things. We just really loved it, we kind of felt like “We’re the forgotten step-child of Star Trek and screw everybody else! Someday they’ll love us.”

A young Ron Moore with James Doohan during the filming of TNG “Relics”

Moore loves a good surprise

The panel started with a discussion about how Moore writes:

I write from a frankly very selfish place, I write stories I want to see or that engage me. I use my own internal barometer in terms of what I think a good story is. There’s a part of me that’s always imagining sitting at home watching it. If it surprises me, if there’s a twist in a character arc, or I thought the story was going to be about this and it turns out to be about that, that always makes me sit up. I think that the element of surprise is a very underrated quality of storytelling.

Social media a distraction from the creative process

Another hot topic that came up is how modern TV writers and producers can now get instant feedback from fans thanks to social media. The role of social media and fan interaction and its influence in the creative process is a contentious one, and Moore was asked to weigh in.

I don’t find it [social media] a particularly useful tool, I think it’s good for publicity of the show. I like that there’s an access point where you can engage fandom and you can talk to people about the show. But in terms of their impact on what we’re doing or their impact on the writers’ room, that I try to put a firewall up and just go “you know what, it ain’t a democracy, we’re not taking a vote on this.” …I just don’t think that’s how you do good creative work, is to sort of open it up to the democratic process, for lack of a better word. I think it is a very internal thing, artists have to decide what they want to do and you work very hard, and then you present it to the audience and you hope that they like it. But it doesn’t feel like a positive thing to try to engage them in the creative process beforehand.

It’s hard because realistically, you’re looking at a couple of a million viewers at least, how many people can you actually listen to online? You’re talking about a handful compared to the real audience.

Ron D. Moore speaking at STLV 2018

Moore’s most satisfying writing experience

After his time with Star Trek, Moore was asked to reboot the ’70s sci-fi show Battlestar Galactica. He started work not long after the September 11 terror attack in America, and saw a chance to do things he couldn’t do on Trek, such as serialized storytelling in a grittier, less perfect world. He would ask tough questions about human nature and what constitutes being human with his critically acclaimed and reimagined Battlestar Galactica TV series.

A young fan asked an excellent question: “Out of all your writing experiences, which one of them left you most satisfied?”

Probably the work on Battlestar left me the most satisfied, and probably the first episode of the first season which was called “33.” It was a very satisfying creative moment, because to this day that was the only script that I sat down and just kind of wrote blind. Where I didn’t have an outline, I had a one-line idea, that was just the fleet jumps every 33 minutes and the Cylons keep chasing them. I just started with “Fade in” and wrote it in one straight shot. I’m very proud of that one.

All eyes on the 33-minute countdown from the Hugo Award-winning Battlestar Galactica episode “33.”

More STLV 2018

We still have a bit more content coming from Star Trek Las Vegas, so stay tuned for more. Click here to see all of our STLV coverage to date.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/10/stlv18-ron-d-moore-talks-star-trek-franchise-fatigue-writing-process-and-more/feed/43Report: ‘Star Trek 4’ Deals For Chris Pine And Chris Hemsworth Have Stalledhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/10/report-star-trek-4-deals-for-chris-pine-and-chris-hemsworth-have-stalled/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/10/report-star-trek-4-deals-for-chris-pine-and-chris-hemsworth-have-stalled/#commentsSat, 11 Aug 2018 00:17:31 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=57041There has been a lot of talk in the last few months about the fourth Kelvin timeline Star Trek film, with a script being reportedly done, financing being lined up, a director hired, and predictions of production starting in early 2019. However, a new report puts a major wrinkle into developments.

A Chris crisis

The story of the follow-up to Star Trek Beyond started two summers ago, when Paramount announced the next film in the Star Trek franchise would reunite Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) with his father, played by Chris Hemsworth in 2009’s Star Trek. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, both Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth have balked at Paramount’s attempt to renegotiate previous deals in an attempt to cut the budget for the film. According to THR, both actors are “walking away from the table.”

The Star Trek 4 announcement, and presumably the deals associated with it, came before the release of Star Trek Beyond, which under-performed expectations. There is a concern that the Trek films have a ceiling and and the studio can’t budget them at the same levels as other tent poles. THR cites insiders saying the Paramount “contends that Trek is not like a Marvel or Star Wars movie and is trying to hold the line on a budget.”

It is certainly true that both Hemsworth and Pine have had bigger franchise film success outside of Star Trek. Pine is currently in production on the sequel to 2017’s Wonder Woman, which brought in over $821 million worldwide. In that same year, Hemsworth starred in Thor: Ragnarok, which brought in $854 million. These numbers dwarf 2016’s Star Trek Beyond, which made $343 million, even though all three films were similarly budgeted. Even if the next Star Trek film can get closer to Star Trek Into Darkness’ $467 million, that still is shy of the typical Marvel and Star Wars film.

Paramount still moving ahead

According to the report, next steps are “unclear,” however their studio insiders are saying that the Star Trek 4 project “remains a priority development and is not being put on hold.” THR says that deals for Star Trek stars Zoe Saldana, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg and John Cho “are expected to close.” Negotiations with Hemsworth and Pine could restart, but the report also suggests the possibility of recasting James T. Kirk and George Kirk. Without Pine and Hemsworth, that would certainly be the only way to move forward with the script developed by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay.

Paramount has yet to fill out its 2020 calendar, but in a conference call just yesterday with analysts, Viacom CEO Robert Bakish trumpeted a turnaround for the studio and promised next year’s slate of releases “will nearly double the number of worldwide theatrical releases compared to 2018 and consistent with the flagship strategy we unveiled last year.” Bakish has previously cited Star Trek as one of the key franchises for the company. And in April Paramount CEO Jim Gianopulos shook the world of Trek by announcing the studio had not just one, but two Trek films in development.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/10/report-star-trek-4-deals-for-chris-pine-and-chris-hemsworth-have-stalled/feed/270See Patrick Stewart Get Emotional Talking About His Return To Star Trek In Full Announcement Videohttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/10/see-patrick-stewart-get-emotional-talking-about-his-return-to-star-trek-in-full-announcement-video/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/10/see-patrick-stewart-get-emotional-talking-about-his-return-to-star-trek-in-full-announcement-video/#commentsFri, 10 Aug 2018 19:17:37 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=57032The big news in Star Trek this week has been the surprise announcement at Star Trek Las Vegas that Sir Patrick Stewart is returning to the role of Jean-Luc Picard for a new series on CBS All Access. Today CBS released the full video of the announcement, including Stewart’s introduction by executive producer, and the man in charge of expanding the Star Trek TV universe, Alex Kurtzman.

Jean-Luc Picard is back – Watch the announcement

Official photos from Stewart’s announcement at STLV

We posted some of our photos from the event, but CBS has also released some official photos of their own for you to enjoy.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/10/see-patrick-stewart-get-emotional-talking-about-his-return-to-star-trek-in-full-announcement-video/feed/29Watch Tig Notoro Describe Scenes And Technobabble From ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 2https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/10/watch-tig-notoro-describe-scenes-and-technobabble-from-star-trek-discovery-season-2/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/10/watch-tig-notoro-describe-scenes-and-technobabble-from-star-trek-discovery-season-2/#commentsFri, 10 Aug 2018 18:34:31 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=57026One of the new additions for the second season of Star Trek: Discovery is Tig Notaro, who has a recurring role playing Chief Engineer Reno of the USS Hiawatha. The actress and comedian was a guest last night on The Late Late Show with James Corden, where she revealed some more details about her character and what she is up to in season 2.

Reno, Valentine and a dead Bolian

Tig Notaro said she is having “a blast” on Star Trek: Discovery, but also lamented the “science fiction-y Star Trek” jargon is a challenge, joking she is “terrible” at it, then worrying CBS would fire her for admitting that. When asked to provide an example, she described a scene, revealing some more details about her character:

A spaceship crashed and I saved a bunch of people. This is when I find out the war is over and I turn to this creature that I have kept alive on – I don’t even know what’s happening. I turn to the creature thing and say “Hear that Valentine, the war is over, we are going home.”

And then I turn to the other people who are in space suits and I’m like “Uggh, Valentine took a piece of shrapnel to the left aortic valve and needed a donor. I couldn’t find a transplant so I piggybacked his heart on a dead Bolian to keep it ticking.”

The people in space suits she is referring to are likely Captain Pike and Commander Burnham, who can be seen encountering Reno among what appears to be the wreckage of the Hiawatha, in the trailer.

Pike and Burnham encounter Reno, from the first look trailer

Notaro also described another scene where she has to get emotional when opening up a cocoon.

Star Trek’s Sulu John Cho was also a guest on The Late Late Show, seated next to Notaro and applauded her ability to do technobabble, noting “I know how hard that is!” The pair also traded tips on how to act in a scene when you are manipulating a console. Notoro said she has a hard time keeping a straight face when she is “doing nothing.” Cho’s tip was to “just don’t make sounds” for all the dials and sliders.

Publicity photo from the first episode of Star Trek: Discovery season 2, featuring Tig Notaro as Chief Engineer Reno (CBS)

Watch the segment

Star Trek: Discovery is available exclusively in the USA on CBS All Access. It airs in Canada on Space and streams on CraveTV. It is available on Netflix everywhere else.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/10/watch-tig-notoro-describe-scenes-and-technobabble-from-star-trek-discovery-season-2/feed/19STLV18: Anson Mount Says Captain Pike Has Depth + More From ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Casthttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/09/stlv-anson-mount-says-captain-pike-has-depth-more-from-star-trek-discovery-cast/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/09/stlv-anson-mount-says-captain-pike-has-depth-more-from-star-trek-discovery-cast/#commentsFri, 10 Aug 2018 03:18:43 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=57012The main cast of Star Trek: Discovery were on hand for the final day of Star Trek Las Vegas, holding two separate panels. One was with Anson Mount, Sonequa Martin-Green and Doug Jones, and the other featured Mary Wiseman, Anthony Rapp, Wilson Cruz and Shazad Latif. We have highlights and photos from both.

Mount on Pike fulfilling Roddenberry’s vision

Anson Mount joins the cast for the second season of Star Trek: Discovery, taking on the role of Captain Christopher Pike, originally played by Jeffrey Hunter in the first Star Trek pilot “The Cage” and then later by Sean Kenney in “The Menagerie.” At Star Trek Las Vegas, Mount showed his deep knowledge of Star Trek, when talking about what has informed his performance from the original Star Trek:

There is “The Cage” and then there is “The Menagerie,” and those are two very different things. I do kind of play around with this idea that we have this established character and now we are going back, and I am wondering, am I establishing a guy we can see moving forward that ends up making that decision in “The Menagerie,” but in a way that is victorious and self-realizing and not a tragedy. But, that hasn’t really informed me at all.

What has informed me more is growing up and watching The Original Series, and knowing the series and knowing Roddenberry’s work and that if this is Roddenberry’s original guy, he kind of has to be the embodiment of an optimism, the same optimism that Roddenberry had that we are at our most basic, good and curious and adventurous. So, having to put together a guy that covers those bases, but is still not a flat portrait of something that is just a protagonist. Because I am not the protagonist. I am here to augment the protagonist of this show.

Anson Mount at Star Trek Las Vegas 2018

Martin-Green on Discovery reflecting our times, with optimism

Sonequa Martin-Green also discussed the optimism of Star Trek, when asked by a fan about the darker tones of the first season and if the second season will see a lighter feel. The actress first noted that the first season was set in a time of war and loss, and due to the serialized nature of the show, “We remember that, we don’t get the reset at the end of every episode, and because of that, it is automatically going to seem like it is darker.”

She added that the series reflects our times, but keeps the core optimism of Star Trek:

I think that the hope and optimism that is still inherent in our show is about fighting through those things. And I think that it is very much a mirror to the lives we are leading right now, especially the divided, ugly time we are in right now. It is about being able to go above and beyond what is tough and rough and difficult and straining and to reach for the hope, even still.

Sonequa Martin-Green at Star Trek Las Vegas 2018

Jones on Saru inspiring hope for the fearful

Doug Jones also talked about the message of hope within the context of finding, like many fans he has met, a personal connection to Saru’s journey:

I know what it is like to live a life of fear. I was kind of fearful every day. I also wanted to say thank you to everyone who has come to my table this weekend and told me your tales of fears and anxieties, and how Saru has been a beacon of hope for you. Because I have been on the ride with you, watching Saru overcome fears and actually come into his own, finding a sense of leadership, finding courage he never knew he had before. That evolution continues. So, let us all look to Saru for a little bit of hope.

Doug Jones also said that following his work in The Shape of Water, he thought he might be done with acting in rubber suits, noting the many challenges including “not being able to go number two for fourteen hours.” However, the part of Saru in Discovery was interesting enough to convince him. He also got the crowd laughing when he talked about how being Saru is even harder than his role in Shape of Water:

Saru is more difficult for me, and more fulfilling, simply because what comes with any Star Trek entity is paragraphs of science talk. And words intimidate the crap out of me, and that many of them in a row, oddly configured and hard to say in an emergency. Oh my gosh. And doing that while balancing on hoof feet at six foot, eight…This has taken more out of me and it is all-consuming, but at the end of the day you can flush that toilet and say “Yeah, I did it!”

Doug Jones at Star Trek Las Vegas 2018

The Burnham/Saru sibling dynamic continues into season 2

When talking about how the character dynamic with Michael Burnham and Saru changed during the first season, Doug Jones and Sonequa Martin-Green opened up a tiny bit about season two:

Jones: Our brother sister thing was still there [in the third episode of season one], even though the trust had been broken, but we had a place of trust to build from, and boy did we throughout season one. And the brother/sister thing and the deep love and connection between us continues, season two is going to be good!

Martin-Green: It is you guys. Oh, yes!

Sonequa Martin-Green and Doug Jones talk about their relationship in Star Trek: Discovery

Cruz promises season 2 will be “lit”

As the panel with the rest of the main cast started, actor Wilson Cruz hyped up the second season of Discovery, telling the crowd:

We are really excited for people to see season two. I think we have found our footing. We’ve gotten a little past the awe of the set. We are so in love with each other and love working together, and because of that, season two is going to be amazing. Lit as the kids say it.

Wilson Cruz at Star Trek Las Vegas 2018

Stamets sings in season 2

When asked by a fan if Anthony Rapp will be able to show off some of his Broadway musical talents on the show, the actor revealed:

Are we allowed to say there is a little bit of singing this season? We are allowed to say that, right? Unless it got cut, but there is a little bit of singing, so far.

Anthony Rapp at Star Trek Las Vegas

Wiseman ready for some weird Tilly love

Mary Wiseman entertained the crowd with some interesting notions on who her Ensign Tilly should be hooking up with:

I want Tilly to start dating a ball of gas, or something – a really conceptionally different alien, not a humanoid. Like a ball of sound or something really weird…Like, my parents don’t approve and I’m “You just don’t get gas!”

Wiseman also got the crowd laughing when she channeled Tilly, responding to a question about breaking the f-word barrier on Star Trek:

It was so fucking cool. It was really fun. It is very appropriate that I did it, because I curse with relish at all times.

Mary Wiseman at Star Trek Las Vegas 2018

Shazad talks about the real Tyler

Shazad Latif was put in the unusual position of playing two characters, Voq and Tyler, and keeping that fact a secret for a long time during the first season. He spoke about what it was like for him to see the fan theories and reactions to the reveal:

It was great to see it. We had spent ten months filming it, so it was great to see people watching episodes. That was just fun.

He also confirmed what happened to the real Ash Tyler:

That soldier died. The real solider Tyler and they used him, I don’t know how.

Shazad Latif at Star Trek Las Vegas

Playing Stamets and Culber is a “miracle”

Both Wilson Cruz and Anthony Rapp spoke about what it means to them to be able to portray the relationship between Dr. Hugh Culber and Lt. Cmdr. Paul Stamets. In response to a fan question, Anthony Rapp talked about how it felt to be cast to play the first openly gay couple on Star Trek on TV:

It’s amazing. We’ve been both out publicly for a long, long, long time and before it was as popular as it is now…Apparently part of the reason we both got the role is because we were out actors, and that is still a little bit rare, but it does make sense. It is important now for representation…So it just means everything to be part of that.

Cruz noted how they both understand how significant it is for the franchise, saying:

What I love about how we work, is we acknowledge the firsts with each other, we have to. In that tooth brushing scene, and later on with that first kiss, we had a moment when we acknowledged it between us. This was a first and it comes with responsibility, but right away we put that away and commit to the moment and to the scene. But, we have to do that, because it means something to us personally to have these characters on television to begin with. But the fact that we get to play them, sometimes feels like a miracle. It is still rare for an openly gay actor to play an openly gay character on a drama. So, the fact that we get to do that and tell these stories on this show is overwhelming every day.

Wilson Cruz and Anthony Rapp at Star Trek Las Vegas 2018

More STLV 2018

We still have a bit more content coming from Star Trek Las Vegas, so stay tuned for more. CLICK HERE to see all of our STLV coverage so far.

Photos by Andy Britton

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/09/stlv-anson-mount-says-captain-pike-has-depth-more-from-star-trek-discovery-cast/feed/49STLV18: ‘Star Trek Online: Age Of Discovery’ Adds Rekha Sharma, More Details Revealedhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/09/stlv18-star-trek-online-age-of-discovery-adds-rekha-sharma-more-details-revealed/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/09/stlv18-star-trek-online-age-of-discovery-adds-rekha-sharma-more-details-revealed/#commentsFri, 10 Aug 2018 00:17:53 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56992Just before Star Trek Las Vegas, Cryptice announced the Age of Discovery expansion coming this fall to their massive multiplayer game Star Trek Online. In a panel held Sunday at STLV the Star Trek Online team brought out Tilly from Star Trek: Discovery, Mary Wiseman, for some fun, and had a few more details to share plus a surprise announcement.

Star Trek Online panel at Star Trek Las Vegas

Set in the early days of the Klingon War

As previously announced, Age of Discovery opens in the year 2256, just after the Battle at the Binary Stars. In the wake of a brutal war against the Klingons, Starfleet Captains now face J’Ula, matriarch of the House of Mo’Kai and sister of T’Kuvma, who seeks to alter the destiny of the Alpha Quadrant.

J’Ula, sister of T’Kuvma and main foe for the Age of Discovery

A render of the Discovery take on the Bird of Prey

Wiseman excited to jump from TV to game

Players must rely on the help of fellow Starfleet Academy Cadet Sylvia Tilly (voiced by Mary Wiseman), who has come home to assist with training and see them off on their first assignment.

Mary Wiseman spoke about what it’s like for her being a video game character:

“It’s really exciting. My fiancé loves to play video games and is a big Star Trek fan, so he was really pumped about the prospect of playing a video game with me in it. It’s hard to wrap your mind around.”

Concept art for Syliva Tilly

Landry is coming next, Ripper too

The surprise announcement at the panel was the addition of another Star Trek: Discovery actress joining the voice cast for Age of Discovery, revealed when Commander Landry actress Rekha Sharma came to the stage. Landry will be the next character to be introduced in into Age of Discovery, in 2019. The team confirmed that they intend to tell the origin story of Landry.

Sharma effused:

“I cannot wait to see it. I love the idea that people will get to play [alongside] me [as Landry].”

When asked what she’d like to see for Landry in Age of Discovery:

“I would love to know, Landry has a special distinction… that she’s probably the hardest Starfleet officer we’ve ever met. I would love to know more about her origin story, because I think there’s probably an amazing journey there.”

Rekha Sharma on stage talking about Landry

They also revealed Ripper the tardigrade is coming to Age of Discovery.

Ripper rendered for STO

Age of Discovery will continue

The team announced that unlike other expansions which are episodic in nature, the Age of Discovery content will continue to grow with new missions, new ships, and new characters slowly being added. They also teased that we will see Tilly’s evil doppelganger “Captain Killy,” since she was briefly in our universe while the USS Discovery was in the Mirror Universe. She will be used in a story based around Pahvo.

Renders of the Discovery standard uniform and EVA suit.

Showing off their hard work

The STO team showed us a bit of their work, they spent a lot of time modeling the USS Discovery, both inside and out. The environment team worked until they had the hallways down to the point where it was hard to tell the difference between the 3D rendered version and photographs of the sets. They also showed off their 3D model of the Andorian admiral Shukar.

Admiral Shukar

Discovery exterior

Discovery interior

Discovery main hallway

More STLV 2018

We still have a bit more content coming from Star Trek Las Vegas, so stay tuned for more. CLICK HERE to see all of our STLV coverage so far.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/09/stlv18-star-trek-online-age-of-discovery-adds-rekha-sharma-more-details-revealed/feed/5STLV18: IDW Announces Return Of ‘Star Trek: Waypoint,’ Including Story From Spot’s POVhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/08/stlv18-idw-announces-return-of-star-trek-waypoint-including-story-from-spots-pov/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/08/stlv18-idw-announces-return-of-star-trek-waypoint-including-story-from-spots-pov/#commentsThu, 09 Aug 2018 03:08:36 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56979IDW Publishing was represented at a number of panels during Star Trek Las Vegas. One focused on prolific writer Mike Johnson, another highlighted the talents of artist JK Woodward, plus there was a main IDW Star Trek comics panel. Much of the discussion was about work from the last year, but there was some news shed on upcoming Star Trek comics as well.

Waypoint is coming back

At the main IDW panel, new group editor Denton Tipton (no relation to Scott and David Tipton) announced the return of a recent popular series. Following a successful 5-issue run of Star Trek: Waypoint, IDW revealed it’s coming back with an extra-length one-shot issue in November. Waypoint, the brainchild of former IDW Star Trek editor Sarah Gaydos, is described as a way to feature new voices and artists and to tell offbeat stories all across the Trek universe.

This new one-off issue of Waypoint coming in November will not only feature short stories from the breadth of Trek history, but will also include a special story done from Spot’s perspective. Yes, that Spot, Data’s cat from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

They also revealed a new gorgeous cover by Josh Hood and colors by David Garcia Cruz, which IDW has also provided us. The cover also features Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Ezri Dax, and Kirk and Spock from the original StarTrek.

Cover for Star Trek: Waypoint special issue coming in November

Going Back to Picard’s Roots – Literally

Obviously, the huge news coming out of Star Trek Las Vegas 2018 was the return of Jean-Luc Picard in a new TV series on CBS All Access. But flying under the radar was IDW’s announcement that we may be seeing another Picard-centric series – this time in the pages of its comics. However, instead of a post-Nemesis story, IDW is going back to Picard’s roots – literally – with a story that took place when he had hair.

Tipton told the crowd:

“We may be doing something in the near future that’s set in the past of the future…so we may be getting Picard with some hair.”

Slide shown at STLV teasing early Picard comic

L’Rell The Riveter

There were no other new titles announced or teased like Waypoint and the Picard series, but both Mike Johnson and JK Woodward lamented how they have yet to work together as Woodward has primarily been partnering with the Tipton brothers while Johnson has been paired with Tony Shasteen (among others). But a pairing of the two might not be far off, possibly for a future Star Trek: Discovery title.

Woodward already has a head start with two original prints he showed off featuring L’Rell as Rosie the Riveter and Captain Killy. Johnson also indicated that there will likely be another Star Trek: Discovery annual issue next year, which would, like the one with Stamets this year, look at another character’s backstory.

Below you can see artist JK Woodward sharing some of the Discovery art he has done on his own, showing he is ready to jump into that series.

A post shared by James Woodward (@jk_woodward) on Jul 6, 2018 at 9:47pm PDT

More STLV 2018

Believe it or not, we still have some more content coming from Star Trek Las Vegas, so stay tuned for more. CLICK HERE to see all of our STLV coverage so far.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/08/stlv18-idw-announces-return-of-star-trek-waypoint-including-story-from-spots-pov/feed/13Watch William Shatner And Other Star Trek Stars Talk About Patrick Stewart’s Return As Picardhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/08/watch-william-shatner-and-other-star-trek-stars-talk-about-patrick-stewarts-return-as-picard/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/08/watch-william-shatner-and-other-star-trek-stars-talk-about-patrick-stewarts-return-as-picard/#commentsThu, 09 Aug 2018 01:33:02 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56976On Sunday the world of Star Trek was stunned with the surprise Star Trek Las Vegas announcement that Sir Patrick Stewart has returned to the franchise to reprise his role as Jean-Luc Picard for a new TV series. At the same event, some Star Trek celebrities talked about the news, so we have video of that along with some more media reactions and analysis.

Shatner, Takei, Cruz, Latif and Rapp talk Patrick Stewart’s return

TV Guide was able to speak to original Star Trek stars William Shatner and George Takei about it, along with some of the stars of Star Trek: Discovery.

Stewart’s return is big news

The news about the new Picard show coming to CBS All Access has been some of the biggest news in Star Trek for years. The story was picked up across the board, from local news like the Sioux City Journal to the biggest mainstream outlets like the New York Times and Germany’s Bild.

Bigger than recent big Star Wars news

To put it in perspective, you can compare Google Trends search data for the past two weeks. The previous weekend included the big Star Wars news that the late Carrie Fisher will appear in Episode IX, using unused footage from Episodes VII and VIII.

Media starts analyzing

After the first wave of announcement news, some in the mainstream media have started doing analysis pieces. Most are celebratory but there are some cases of contrary think pieces, with some possibly dubious logic. Here are some samples from across the spectrum.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/08/watch-william-shatner-and-other-star-trek-stars-talk-about-patrick-stewarts-return-as-picard/feed/69Explore Star Trek History With ‘The Roddenberry Nexus’ VR Experiencehttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/07/explore-star-trek-history-with-the-roddenberry-nexus-vr-experience/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/07/explore-star-trek-history-with-the-roddenberry-nexus-vr-experience/#commentsTue, 07 Aug 2018 22:45:01 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56969Roddenberry Entertainment and Linden Labs (creator of the popular virtual world Second Life) have created a new virtual reality experience for Trekkies using their Sansar platform, called The Roddenberry Nexus. Visitors can explore a three-level gallery of artifacts from the Roddenberry archives. Roddenberry Entertainment had a preview of The Roddenberry Nexus at Star Trek Las Vegas last weekend, and now Sansar has released a video walkthrough for those who didn’t try the demo in Las Vegas.

The physical space is modeled after the TOS movie era design style. You can see a similarity to the recreation deck as seen in TMP, and the large doors between sections as seen in the Regula One space lab in TWOK.

The lower level lounge area

Looking at a model of the prototype Enterprise from Planet of the Titans

A virtual mannequin wearing a TNG 3rd season command uniform.

It’s worth noting that Sansar does not require a VR headset, you can walk around and point and click on things akin to a first-person game–but if you have the gear you can have a full VR experience. Currently, the Sansar application is for Windows only. VR headsets supported include the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift. Click here for the full details of system requirements.

Video walkthrough

Full Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO – August 1, 2018 –Sansar®, the premier destination for social VR, today announced their latest collaboration with Roddenberry Entertainment: the Roddenberry Nexus in Sansar – a new virtual experience for fans that showcases the best of Roddenberry’s science fiction properties, including never-before-seen art and artifacts from Star Trek®’sfifty-two-year history and new stories such as the short film Instant. The hangout space will serve as a venue for future Roddenberry events and fan meet-ups, and can be demoed live at the 2018 Star Trek Convention (August 1-5), in the Tropical Room at Las Vegas’s Rio Hotel & Casino.

In offering fans virtual access to its archives, from anywhere in the world, Roddenberry Entertainment continues to pioneer a richer, more interactive fan experience – one where fans not only have more places to hang and connect, but also new ways of experiencing the storied Roddenberry legacy. It’s an innovative streak that reaches back months: this past May, the company collaborated with Sansar to host a live episode of its Mission Log Podcast, aboard a virtual recreation of the bridge from the original Enterprise; a virtual Star Trek trivia night followed in early July.

“Roddenberry Entertainment always strives to be on the forefront of innovation, going where no one has gone before,” said Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, CEO of Roddenberry Entertainment. “Sansar Studios is a leader in VR development and we are proud to partner with them on this new initiative, combining the history and legacy of Roddenberry with their groundbreaking technology.”

With the Nexus, Roddenberry Entertainment has found a way to further evolve VR’s role in fan engagement, making Roddenberry history feel instantly more immediate, more accessible, and more tangible than ever before. Inspired by the futuristic environments Star Trek once made famous, the space lets visitors view and virtually interact with never-before-seen artifacts from the show’s development – everything from props to costumes and artwork – across three distinct levels, with original voice-over content to offer guidance. Anyone with a link to the Sansar experience can step directly into TV and movie history; whether just to take a private tour, or to attend one of the many fan events planned in the space in coming months.

“We really do see VR as a new frontier for fan engagement,” says Jason Gholston, Head of Sansar Studios. “We’re not just tapping into fans’ collective nostalgia; we’re actively empowering them to reach out and touch television history, in a way that might not be possible in the real world. We’re thrilled to be able to preserve these pieces for future generations, and to find such amazing collaborators in Roddenberry Entertainment.”

Experience the Roddenberry Nexus in Sansar today. And make sure to check out the upcoming special events, including a guided tour led by hosts from Roddenberry Entertainment (August 16 at 7 PM PT/10 PM ET) and a screening of Roddenberry’s Instant (August 30 at 7 PM PT/10 PM ET).

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/07/explore-star-trek-history-with-the-roddenberry-nexus-vr-experience/feed/5‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 1 Blu-Ray And DVD Pre-Order Available Now, Watch Trailerhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/06/star-trek-discovery-season-1-blu-ray-and-dvd-pre-order-available-now-watch-trailer/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/06/star-trek-discovery-season-1-blu-ray-and-dvd-pre-order-available-now-watch-trailer/#commentsTue, 07 Aug 2018 01:00:55 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56960As promised yesterday at Star Trek Las Vegas, you can now pre-order the first season of Star Trek: Discovery on Blu-ray and DVD in the USA and Canada, which will arrive on November 13th. There is still no release date available for those outside of USA/Canada.

Discovery Season 1 Home Video Trailer

Both the Blu-ray and the DVD sets come with four discs, and both include the same special features.

THE STAR TREK THEME – A discussion with executive producer Alex Kurtzman and composer Jeff Russo about creating the Discovery theme and score for the show.

CREATURE COMFORTS– A behind-the-scenes look at the makeup and prosthetics department as they both modernized well-known Star Trek species like the Klingons, Vulcans, and Andorians, and brought to life a new species, the Kelpiens.

DESIGNING DISCOVERY– Insight into the production design department led by Tamara Deverell as they created the planets, the world within those worlds and the starships to travel amongst them.

CREATING SPACE– An exploration of how the VFX team, headed by Jason Zimmerman, pushes the envelope to create the reality of space, planets, and starships for Star Trek: Discovery.

PROP ME UP– Led by propmaster Mario Moreira, a voyage through the world of Discovery props, providing an inside look at the design process from inception to set.

FEEDING FRENZY – A fascinating look at the on-set food stylist who creates a galaxy of cuisine.

A FEMALE TOUCH – With strong female producers and writers off-screen and powerful female characters on-screen, Discovery exemplifies the groundbreaking inclusionary theme first put forth in the original series.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS– Costume designer Gersha Phillips and her team create a spectacular array of clothing, uniforms, and armor for every kind of species in the galaxy.

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY: THE VOYAGE OF SEASON ONE– A look at the adventures and plot twists encountered in the first season by the crew.

Technical details

Note for readers fluent in Klingon, subtitles in Klingon will be available on both the Blu-ray and DVD.

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY: SEASON ONE Blu-ray and DVD is Not Rated in the U.S. and rated PG in Canada.

Blu-ray presented in English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, the episodes can also be played in German, French, Italian, Castilian, and Japanese 5.1 (Dolby Digital). Includes English SDH, Italian, German, French, Castilian, Japanese, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian Swedish, Brazilian Portuguese and Klingon subtitles.

DVD presented in English 5.1 (Dolby Digital), the episodes can also be played in French Stereo. Includes English SDH, French, Brazilian Portuguese and Klingon subtitles.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/06/star-trek-discovery-season-1-blu-ray-and-dvd-pre-order-available-now-watch-trailer/feed/79STLV18: Designer Promises New Klingon Look For ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 2, Hints At Hairhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/06/stlv18-designer-promises-new-klingon-look-for-star-trek-discovery-season-2-hints-at-hair/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/06/stlv18-designer-promises-new-klingon-look-for-star-trek-discovery-season-2-hints-at-hair/#commentsTue, 07 Aug 2018 00:13:58 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56939On Sunday at Star Trek Las Vegas, Star Trek: Discovery makeup designer and lifelong Star Trek fan Glenn Hetrick held a short panel mostly about the process he and his team went through in the show’s first season, with much of the conversation about creating the look for the Klingons. His talk was accompanied by a slideshow of images of work from the first season, which are mostly taken from a gallery on his AlchemyFX website.

Hetrick also talked about the Klingons in the second season of Discovery, promisingna new look. He dug into some deep stuff about Klingon lore, rituals, and hair. Hetrick’s comments were somewhat cryptic, so we present them with a bit of interpretation and as much context as we can muster in this deep dive into the once and future look of the Klingons.

Klingons are changing, again

Much has been said about the new design of the Klingons for Discovery. Of course, the iconic race has gone through a number of major changes since the original TV series, through to the movies and into the Next Generation era, and again in the J.J. Abrams films. On Discovery, their look was updated once again, with more detail for the HD era.

And according to Glenn Hetrick, there is more change coming. Here is what he told the crowd at STLV:

As we move into season two, it has been while since we have been with our characters. It has been a while since we have seen our Klingon friends. So, everything keeps evolving. The story has evolved. And I can guarantee you this, you are going to be blown away that they have a completely new look, yet again, going into season two.

A season one Klingon from Hetrick’s slideshow

Inspired by TNG’s story of Kahless

Hetrick never directly described what will be new and different about the Klingons for the second season, who have yet to be seen in any released images or videos. However, a hint of what may come could be gleaned from Hetrick’s new backstory behind the biggest controversy around the new Klingon designs in Discovery, which is that they are all hairless. Hetrick spoke at length about what he used as inspiration for their look in season one:

If you really think about season one, and the Klingon story line, we had this incredibly ritualistic season with them. It was really about unification, and igniting the beacon, the Light of Kahless, and bringing him back… so we integrated that very much and thought a lot about that.

Hetrick then pointed to the Star Trek: The Next Generation sixth season episode “Rightful Heir,” which featured the return of what was later to be revealed as a clone of Kahless. He pointed out that when this clone was being tested, he was asked how he unified the Empire. Here is how Hetrick describes it:

He did it by cutting off his hair, and dipping it into a volcano and forging the first bat’leth and tempering in the ocean of Qo’noS.

The clone of Kahless is questioned by a priest of Borath in TNG’s “Rightful Heir”

To get a little nitpicky, what the clone of Kahless said was that he cut off a “lock” of his hair to make the first bat’leth, but Hetrick was clearly making a connection to Kahless, unifying the empire, and cutting off hair. And of course, Kahless was important in the first season of Discovery, especially in the two-part opener–he’s mentioned in the first minute of the first episode, held up by T’Kuvma as his inspiration to unite the Klingon houses.

T’Kuvma namedrops Kahless in the first scene of Star Trek: Discovery

Look of Klingon Houses tied to rituals

Hetrick then went on to connect the story of Kahless to how they designed the Klingons for the first season of Discovery with this notion of a hair ritual in mind:

There is this whole thing with hair and ritual and unification that was very much in the forefront of our mind when we designing.

At last year’s STLV, Hetrick was on a panel with creature designer Neville Page and they said that Klingons were bald based on a directive from co-creator and former showrunner Bryan Fuller. During that panel, they also talked about how they developed a logic for it based on sensory organs in their heads, due to them being apex predators. All indications at the time seemed to be that the Klingons were bald by nature. However, Hetrick’s comments indicate that instead, it may have been ritualistic, and limited to just the Klingons we saw during the first season.

Hetrick made a point of saying that we have only seen Klingons from a fraction of the Houses in the Empire so far, and pointed out an example of body modification in season one. During his slideshow he noted that some members of House Mo’Kai undergo ritual scarring.

Member of House Mo’Kai with ritual scars

Another example Hetrick used to show how the different houses show their distinctiveness was House D’Ghor, who adorn their head ridges with jewelry. This was seen on the season one character Dennas.

Dennas of House D’Ghor likes a little forehead bling

Different Houses vary by genetics too

To throw another angle on this, Hetrick said that some of the houses actually have genetic differences. He pointed out that a Klingon from the first season from House Antaak had a “cranial ridge extension that goes down on to his chin.” Hetrick added, “Only that house has that genetic signature. Their chins have ridges too.”

And if you want to go further down the rabbit hole, Antaak was the doctor from Star Trek: Enterprise who inadvertently created ridgeless Klingons through genetic engineering, and was last seen as a victim of his own science.

Klingon from House Antaak with a chin ridge

Are Discovery Klingons really all that different?

Hetrick indicated that some of the changes coming are because there are still more Houses to reveal:

In season two, you are going to see much different designs. You are going to see different houses you haven’t seen before. One of the most important things to us was that at this point in canon, as we head towards the current version of unification, the houses really each grow up on different planets. It is an Empire, it is not just Qo’noS… We have seen six of the great houses in close up in season one. As we move forward into the next season, I promise that we will continue exploring and unpacking and unfolding that infinitely interesting story of what the Klingon culture looks like on a wider level.

Hetrick continued to push the point that what we saw in the first season is not the end of the story in terms of the look of the Klingons. During the Q&A a fan began a question by stating, “The Klingons are completely different,” and Hetrick cut her off, with: “But are they? We are not in season two yet.”

Putting it all together, Hetrick seems to be saying that in season two, the Klingons we see may not be as different as the ones we are used to. It’s possible that hair removal was a ritual, practiced by some of the Houses, or possibly a genetic trait that varies by House.

Regardless, Hetrick seems to be asking for patience, promising there is more to come.

Fan Photoshop image of Kol with hair added.

More STLV 2018

Stay tuned for more daily coverage here at TrekMovie.com. Also be sure to follow along with our social media reporting from STLV on Twitter and Instagram. CLICK HERE to see all of our STLV coverage.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/06/stlv18-designer-promises-new-klingon-look-for-star-trek-discovery-season-2-hints-at-hair/feed/114CBS Wants New Star Trek Shows All Year Round On All Accesshttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/06/cbs-wants-new-star-trek-shows-all-year-round-on-all-access/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/06/cbs-wants-new-star-trek-shows-all-year-round-on-all-access/#commentsMon, 06 Aug 2018 23:22:35 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56953The weekend saw big news at Star Trek Las Vegas with the announcement of a new Star Trek series featuring the return of Sir Patrick Stewart in the role of Jean-Luc Picard. Over the weekend there was also a big event with network executives in Beverly Hills for the Television Critics Association, where Deadine interviewed CBS TV Studios president David Stapf, COO Marc DeBevoise and EVP Original Content Julie McNamara, who talked about the future of Star Trek and CBS All Access.

All Access, All Star Trek, All The Time

The biggest news from the interview comes from David Stapf, who spoke to the scope of their ambitions when asked how big of a Star Trek franchise they are seeking to build:

My goal is that there should be a Star Trek something on all the time on All Access. We know it draws an audience, and Discovery has done quite well.

Later in the interview, Julie McNamara spoke about what kind of shows they hope to create:

We’re looking at limited series for some Trek shows and we are looking at ongoing series for some other Trek shows. We’ve obviously announced the one that’s coming next with Sir Patrick Stewart but we have more in development there.

Disco spinoffs under consideration

When asked if they are looking to spin off a show with Michelle Yeoh, McNamara said they are looking for Discovery spinoffs but nothing specific for the actress who has played both regular and mirror Georgiou:

We’ve really talked about virtually all of the characters who popped in Discovery as potential spinoff shows. It’s obviously very much driven by our conversations with Alex Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout and the other creators involved. I wouldn’t say at this point that we are actively pursuing a Michelle Yeoh series but it has been discussed.

However, she seemed more open to the idea of a show built around Rainn Wilson’s Harry Mudd:

He definitely falls in that category of it could be interesting to build around this character. But, I will say, it hasn’t progressed any further than that.

Wanted to do something around TNG

David Stapf also discussed why they decided to do a show that brings back Patrick Stewart:

It came to us, as do all things Trek now, through Alex Kurtzman, with the idea of, wouldn’t it be cool to do something Next Gen-oriented, and/or get Patrick Stewart and/or any of those iconic Next Gen characters. As Patrick himself has said, he was of the opinion that “I’ve done that character,” but he got a meeting with Alex and some of the other guys and they won him over. The deal didn’t take that long once he decided to do it.

Stapf specifically said there weren’t any other Trek series they were looking at now, but when asked about William Shatner he responded with a laugh, adding, “I would say, never say never.”

What about Netflix?

No international partners have been announced yet for the Patrick Stewart Star Trek series. Deadline tried to get details on plans for future series but the execs didn’t get into specifics, with Stapf saying, “It’s complicated.” He indicated that they would have an obligation to work with Netflix on any shows that were deemed as Discovery spinoffs.

However, regarding the Patrick Stewart Star Trek show, he noted “that’s a new series. Which I think is important to distinguish,” so it’s possible that they could find other partners for that show besides Netflix. One obvious option would be CBS All Access itself, which has now expanded into Canada and Australia, with more countries planned. Regarding All Access in those markets all Stapf would say is, “We’re looking at all of it and have the ability to do that.”

All Access up to 2.5 million subscribers

Also during their presentation at TCA it was announced (via Broadcast and Cable) that CBS All Access now has 2.5 million subscribers with an average age of 43. The stated goals now are 4 million subscribers in 2019, and 8 million in 2022.

They also announced that the Twilight Zone reboot will arrive in the first quarter of 2019, following the debut of the second season of Star Trek: Discovery.

CBS All Access also debuted a trailer for their upcoming series Tell Me A Story, which arrives on October 31st.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/06/cbs-wants-new-star-trek-shows-all-year-round-on-all-access/feed/238STLV18: Kate Mulgrew Says Seven Of Nine Brought Janeway To Life On ‘Star Trek: Voyager’https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/05/stlv18-kate-mulgrew-says-seven-of-nine-brought-janeway-to-life-on-star-trek-voyager/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/05/stlv18-kate-mulgrew-says-seven-of-nine-brought-janeway-to-life-on-star-trek-voyager/#commentsSun, 05 Aug 2018 22:00:58 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56927For her time on stage at Star Trek Las Vegas on Saturday, Star Trek: Voyager star Kate Mulgrew spent much of her time talking about how much she was enjoying her latest role playing Red on Orange is the New Black. There was some talk about her time in the Delta Quadrant, which she used as a jumping off point to talk about how she avoided the casting couch over her career.

Kate Mulgrew at Star Trek Las Vegas 2018

Seven was a “blessing” for Janeway

Much has been said about the fourth season introduction of the sexy Borg character Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Voyager, especially the dynamic it introduced on the set with show star Kate Mulgrew and actress Jeri Ryan. At Star Trek Las Vegas, Mulgrew was asked about the ongoing arc of Janeway’s mentoring of Seven regaining her humanity, and she had some interesting things to say about how much it benefited her character:

It was beautifully written by Brannon Braga; he was the main writer of that story. And it was a terribly important thing for Janeway to be endowed with that principle of humanity. Janeway, who was childless, who was stranded in the Delta Quadrant, and who managed to strand 165 of her complement. Right? I missed the gas station.

[Janeway] is given a blessing in the form of a half-human, half-Borg, very beautiful girl, who we call Seven of Nine. So, I am taught vulnerability. I am taught my limitations. I am taught how small I am, in the face of this kind of possible love. Seven of Nine is what Janeway to life, as a deeply human woman, I believe. And I am deeply grateful for that.

Kate Mulgrew talked about the Janeway/Seven relationship at STLV 2018

Avoiding the casting couch

Mulgrew was also asked by a young woman about the Janeway/Chakotay relationship, with the fan noting how she was glad it was never played for sexual tension. The fan then commented, “As a woman in the industry, women have a lot of pressure to confirm to gender norms.” Mulgrew then interjected, asking, “Do they?”. She then talked at length about how she has dealt with life in Hollywood as an actress over her career:

I say that is an absolute choice…Especially now that we are looking in view of this #MeToo thing. I’m on it, I’m in it, I get it! I have been active for almost forty-four years, but it is a choice! To be who you are, before you are a victim. You only become a victim if you allow it. Some are hurt, some get hurt. I am not suggesting otherwise. But I am saying, you must make a character choice as you enter your young womanhood and say that this is the kind of woman you are going to be. Where men look at you and understand right away, you are not to be fooled around with.

This is sort of pathetic, I suppose many of you will weep for me, but nobody once suggested I should go on the casting couch. And I was pretty when I was young! They never once said “Well if you meet me for a drink, guess what?” Never once! Because I simply would not do it. I wouldn’t do it. I didn’t understand it.

And I am very sympathetic to those who cannot help it, or who have been otherwise hurt, and I am aware of that, but this is a choice for a woman like you, with your head on straight. Head up! Just be a person. I have been a person in the industry. How do you think I have survived?

Kate Mulgrew offers some advice to young women at STLV 2018

More STLV 2018

Stay tuned for more daily coverage here at TrekMovie.com. Also be sure to follow along with our social media reporting from STLV on Twitter and Instagram. CLICK HERE to see all of our STLV coverage.

Special thanks for the photos from Sam Dar’Ragh from our friends at TrekkieGirls.com.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/05/stlv18-kate-mulgrew-says-seven-of-nine-brought-janeway-to-life-on-star-trek-voyager/feed/31Star Trek Celebrities Gush Over Patrick Stewart’s TV Return As Jean-Luc Picardhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/05/star-trek-celebrities-gush-over-patrick-stewarts-return-as-jean-luc-picard/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/05/star-trek-celebrities-gush-over-patrick-stewarts-return-as-jean-luc-picard/#commentsSun, 05 Aug 2018 21:21:57 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56932Yesterday’s surprise announcement that Patrick Stewart is returning to Star Trek for a new series, reprising his Star Trek: The Next Generation role as Jean-Luc Picard, has been huge news around the world. It was even the top trending hashtag on Twitter for a while. And it isn’t just fans who are excited, as many Trek celebs joined in on social media to share their enthusiasm, with some also sharing some behind the scenes images from STLV with Patrick Stewart.

Group hug

Today Star Trek: Discovery’s Anson Mount shared a group photo of much of the cast and crew of Star Trek: Discovery with Sir Patrick, and Ron Moore is there as well, with the message “The Trek Family Photo”

Perhaps the biggest bit of enthusiasm came from Wil Wheaton, with one hot take nerding out tweet and another getting more serious about the impact of this.

*sigh* Listen, folks. I was a Star Trek fan before I worked on TNG. I remain a Star Trek fan to this day. I am as excited as any other Trekkie in the world about this, and telling me "Shut up Wesley" when I'm excited about this is shitty and cruel. Please don't do that.

More STLV 2018

Stay tuned for more daily coverage here at TrekMovie.com. Also be sure to follow along with our social media reporting from STLV on Twitter and Instagram. CLICK HERE to see all of our STLV coverage.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/05/star-trek-celebrities-gush-over-patrick-stewarts-return-as-jean-luc-picard/feed/40STLV18: Mary Chieffo Talks Season 2 Klingon Aesthetic; Ken Mitchell Indicates Return To ‘Star Trek: Discovery’https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/05/stlv18-mary-chieffo-talks-season-2-klingon-aesthetic-ken-mitchell-indicates-return-to-star-trek-discovery/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/05/stlv18-mary-chieffo-talks-season-2-klingon-aesthetic-ken-mitchell-indicates-return-to-star-trek-discovery/#commentsSun, 05 Aug 2018 19:16:18 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56918Saturday at Star Trek Las Vegas featured two panels with guest and recurring actors from Star Trek: Discovery with one featuring Klingon actors Mary Chieffo (L’Rell) and Kenneth Mitchell (Kol), along with Jayne Brook (Admiral Cornwell) and Clint Howard (Creepy Orion). The panel had some news about the second season of Discovery along with some interesting insights into the first.

Mary Chieffo talks new look for the Klingons at peace

The first season of Discovery wrapped up the war with Klingons, with Mary Chieffo’s L’Rell putting an end to it with a little help from a giant Federation bomb. At STLV, the actress talked about her role in the Klingon Empire for the second season, proudly proclaiming “I am the Chancellor!” She also spoke about changes she sees for the Empire for season two:

It is a time of peace and there is a certain aesthetic that comes with that. We are not at war, so I tease that there is not only a Klingon aesthetic change, there is a Chancellor aesthetic that L’Rell gets to embody, that I am really thrilled about on a superficial level, but also on a thematic level. You are going to see as she embraces her femininity, she is not a commander, not a soldier anymore. She is trying to embody this more female archetype as she embraces her power. It’s going to be fun.

Mary Chieffo at STLV 2018

Ken Mitchell indicates he returns for season two

Kenneth Mitchell spoke about the challenge he had doing the Klingon dialog playing Kol in the first season of Discovery:

It’s like memorizing a sequence of numbers, I had to approach it that way…I would wallpaper the Klingon all over my house, because I would print it up in big posters around my house and for weeks I would try to memorize syllable by syllable. It would take me two weeks memorizing eight hours a day to memorize two scenes.

Ken Mitchell at STLV 2018

Kol was last seen on board the Klingon Sarcophagus Ship shortly before it was destroyed in the ninth episode of the first season. However, that may not be the end for Mitchell’s time on the show. A fan asked if we might see him return to the series, possibly playing another role. Mitchell said at first “I would love to come back,” he then theatrically asked the audience to stomp their feet while he posed the question to himself saying “Am I coming back?” He then reached out his hand and slowly gave the thumbs up sign, to indicate he will indeed be returning, with no sign if that would be as Kol, or possibly a different character.

Kenneth Mitchell gives the thumbs up to the question on if he is returning to Star Trek: Discovery

Jayne Brook thrilled to play powerful woman on Discovery

This was Jayne Brook’s first convention ever and she was thrilled to be there. The actress talked about what it was like for her to land the job playing Admiral Cornwell:

It was so much fun and was completely unexpected. I had some catching up to do, and still have some catching up to do…It was thrilling to be part of [Star Trek: Discovery] and to play a woman who has power, but is so multi-dimensional. We saw so many different sides of her.

She also spoke about how she was clued in to the secret that Jason Isaacs’ Lorca was really the Mirror Lorca, and therefore not the same person as Corwell’s old flame, Prime Lorca. However, she noted that she had to put that info aside, to do her intimate scenes with Isaacs:

They had talked to me about [Lorca’s secret], but I just put it into another compartment and just played it as it was real.

Jayne Brook at STLV 2018

Clint Howard connects TOS to Discovery

Veteran actor Clint Howard drew a through-line from his first time as a child actor on Star Trek: The Original Series, through to his guest appearance in the season finale of Discovery and how the franchise has always valued the input of the actors and directors on set:

Being on the original [Star Trek] and hearing about it from my dad [actor Rance Howard] and there was a fellow named Joe Sargent who directed the first episode I did [TOS: “The Corbomite Maneuver”], is the actor’s element, the stuff that Leonard [Nimoy] invented or the stuff that the director told Leonard to do, that ended up becoming part of Spock’s life. It’s like what can’t happen is the show becomes so much soap opera, that it loses the human element. Why does that moment work? Because it works because the actor made it work. So, as the show evolves, they still have to let us have that ability to make it real.

It was nice that Akiva [Goldsman, director of DSC “Will You Take My Hand”] asked me to come back and when I was thinking about it, of course there is a way they want you to do it. But my experience is, that they hired me to do it. Now, I am not going to rewrite their dialog, but I am also not going to be a mimic for what the showrunner wants me to do. They can hire somebody to do that. What made the original special, was that the actors brought their own humanity to the table, which is really important.

Clint Howard at STLV 2018

Brook and Chieffo reenact the scream

A fun moment that delighted the crowd was when Mary Chieffo and Jayne Brook reenacted the dueling scream from their scene together in the episode “Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum.” TrekMovie captured the moment for our live coverage on Twitter.

More STLV 2018

Stay tuned for more daily coverage here at TrekMovie.com. Also be sure to follow along with our social media reporting from STLV on Twitter and Instagram. CLICK HERE to see all of our STLV coverage.

All photos by Andrew Britton/TrekMovie.com

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/05/stlv18-mary-chieffo-talks-season-2-klingon-aesthetic-ken-mitchell-indicates-return-to-star-trek-discovery/feed/17BREAKING: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season One Blu-Ray And DVD Announced [UPDATED]https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/05/breaking-star-trek-discovery-season-one-blu-ray-and-dvd-announced/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/05/breaking-star-trek-discovery-season-one-blu-ray-and-dvd-announced/#commentsSun, 05 Aug 2018 19:00:10 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56937Ever since the season one finale in February, fans have been wondering about a home release for Star Trek: Discovery, and on Sunday at Star Trek Las Vegas we finally got the answer.

Blu-Ray/DVD coming in November

The final Discovery panel at STLV, featuring stars Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones and Anson Mount, ended with the official announcement that the first season of the series will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 13th in the USA and Canada. NOTE: An international release date is still pending. Pre-orders will be available tomorrow, Monday August 6th.

In addition to the entire first season of fifteen episodes, the home video release of Discovery will include two hours of bonus features, including featurettes, deleted scenes, extended scenes and interviews with cast and crew.

UPDATE: Pre-order available

UPDATE: Trailer

More STLV 2018

Stay tuned for more daily coverage here at TrekMovie.com. Also be sure to follow along with our social media reporting from STLV on Twitter and Instagram. CLICK HERE to see all of our STLV coverage.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/05/breaking-star-trek-discovery-season-one-blu-ray-and-dvd-announced/feed/56STLV18: Jonathan Frakes Reveals Ted Danson And More Stars Join Marina Sirtis In His ‘The Orville’ Episodehttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/04/stlv18-jonathan-frakes-reveals-ted-danson-and-more-stars-join-marina-sirtis-in-his-the-orville-episode/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/04/stlv18-jonathan-frakes-reveals-ted-danson-and-more-stars-join-marina-sirtis-in-his-the-orville-episode/#commentsSun, 05 Aug 2018 03:07:46 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56886One of the more entertaining panels for Friday at Star Trek Las Vegas was the ever charming pair of Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis. The original Imzadis demonstrated their chemistry as they told stories of their time on Star Trek: The Next Generation stars and a bit about their recent work together on The Orville. We have highlights from the pair along with photo highlights from other celebrity panels from Friday.

However Frakes had more to reveal, saying creator Seth MacFarlane gave him permission to announced more guest stars for his latest The Orville episode. Joining Sirtis and playing admirals for the Planetary Union will be F. Murray Abraham (Ru’afo in Star Trek: Insurrection) and Ron Canada (who has guest starred three times for Star Trek). Tony Todd (who played three different characters in Star Trek including Worf’s brother Kurn) will be playing a Moclan. And perhaps the biggest surprise Frakes had to announce is Cheers and The Good Place star Ted Danson also appears in this same episode.

Sirtis on Frakes as a director

Sirtis said that in all her time acting, Jonathan Frakes was her favorite director to work with, explaining:

He is a force of nature and he gets it. There are two types of directors. Directors who like to do whizzy things with the camera and shots and all that. And then there the directors who are really good with actors. They usually fall into two separate groups. This one [pointing to Frakes] is both…The studio loves him, the actors loves him, the crew would walk on glass for him. It’s a happy set. The work gets done. There is no tension. There is no angst. You know you are going to get the work done. You are producing a good product. You got a great guy at the helm. It’s perfect, perfect.

Frakes also offered up his own compliment to Sirtis saying that in the editing room for episodes he directed on Star Trek: The Next Generation, if he ever got in trouble and needed to find the right shot, he would always pick a close-up of Marina because she was “an active listener,” especially in conference room scenes.

Jonathan Frakes thanks Marina Sritis for her kind words at STLV 2018

Sirtis says Denise Crosby leaving saved her job

When moderator Matt Mira commented that it seemed to take a long time for the Star Trek: The Next Generation to figure out how to use Marina’s character of Troi, she quipped back that there were scenes she felt “decorative.” She also recalled how she believed she was going to be fired during the first season:

If she can sense what what is going on, we have to write her out…I was very insecure in the first season because they were always writing me out of episodes and I went from being the favorite, because when I was cast I knew I was their favorite. Gene loved me, it was obvious I was their favorite. And it got to the point where if a producer saw me coming, they would turn around and walk away. So, I knew my job was on the line…I was on the bubble.

Sirtis said Majel Barrett, wife of TNG creator Gene Roddenberry, confirmed her suspicions years later. She recalled Barrett telling her that Roddenberry felt there was “one too many women” on the show and that “you don’t really need a psychologist.” Sirits believes that if it weren’t for Denise Crosby leaving the show during the first season, she would have been fired, saying “she saved my job.”

Marina Sirtis

More photos from STLV

Here are some more photo highlights from Friday’s STLV celebrity panels.

Star Trek: Discovery co-creator and showrunner Alex Kurtzman was a surprise last-minute addition to the Saturday schedule at Star Trek Las Vegas. The man who has been put in charge of the CBS plan to expand the Star Trek universe for television broke some huge news shortly after hitting the stage.

Kurtzman noted that there has been a lot of speculation about the future of Trek, so he decided to use STLV to announce “what the next Star Trek series is going to be.” The producer then had a little fun with it, saying he wanted to bring out a friend to talk about the next Star Trek show, at which point Sir Patrick Stewart joined him on stage and the capacity Vegas crowd went wild.

This introduction confirmed the previous rumors, Sir Patrick Stewart is returning to Star Trek, reprising his iconic role as Jean Luc-Picard. Stewart began his remarks by simply stating “I have returned, thank you.”

Patrick Stewart’s long trip back to Jean-Luc Picard

Stewart then took a stroll through memory lane, starting back in March 1987 when he auditioned for The Next Generation, but not believing it “would ever lead to anything at all.” He then said how being cast and playing Jean-Luc Picard has became “something that would touch every corner my life.” And after being very proud of the work he did for seven seasons and four feature films, with the last in 2002, he had decided he would not return to the role and it was “a voyage I would never take again.”

Stewart said the offer from CBS to reprise the character came earlier this year and while he described it as “interesting and charming” he said he was set to turn it down. According to Stewart he met with the producers and spent twenty minutes “explaining with sadness why I would have to say “no.” But through a process of discussions over six months, and spending time rewatching Star Trek: The Next Generation, he came around to the idea:

Gradually it became clearer and clearer to me, that the power of that show, the success of that show, the benefits that it gave – I have never, ever grown tired of hearing from people who say “You’re show changed my life. Without Star Trek: The Next Generation I might not be here.”

And for these reasons he said, Stewart made the following simple, and yet profound statement:

Jean-Luc Picard is back

Stewart announces that “Jean-Luc is back”

UPDATE 2: VIDEO

CBS has release a clip of Stewart’s introduction and initial comments.

May be a very different Picard

A few details were provided for the new show. Stewart revealed that things have changed for Jean-Luc Picard:

He may not, and I stress may not, be a captain anymore. He may not be the Jean-Luc that you recognize and know so well. It may be a very different individual. Someone who has been changed by his experiences. Twenty years will have passed, which is more or less exactly the time between the very last movie – Nemesis – and today.

He also promised it will not be like TNG, but in some ways it would be:

It will be, I promise you, I guarantee it, something very, very different. It will come to you with the same passion, and determination and love of the material and love of our followers and our fans, exactly as we had it before.

Patrick Stewart was last seen as Picard in Star Trek: Nemesis in 2002

Still in early development

No release information for the unnamed show was provided, and Stewart revealed as of this moment there weren’t yet any scripts, adding “we are talking and talking about story lines.” There were no hints about other characters for the series and if any other Star Trek: The Next Generation actors will be reprising their roles.

It is also unclear at this time if the Jean Luc-Picard Star Trek show will be an ongoing series, or a one-off mini-series. It is expected that the show will be on CBS All Access, in the USA, like Star Trek: Discovery and the upcoming Star Trek: Short Treks series of min-episodes tied into Discovery. At San Diego Comic-Con, Discovery executive producer and president of Secret Hideout Productions Heather Kadin told TrekMovie that “all live-action Star Trek will be on CBS All Access.”

After the announcement, Discovery co-executive producer and writer Ted Sullivan took to Twitter to reveal that the show was the “brain child” of Kirsten Beyer.

This #Picard news is very exciting. It's the brain child of our dear friend and lifelong Trek "keeper of the flame" #KirstenBeyer. This couldn't have happened to a better or more talented artist and human being! Exciting times for #StarTrek!

Stewart, Chabon, Goldsman, and Kurtzman are all executive producers on the show, along with Discovery executive producer, and president of Secret Hideout Productions, Heather Kadin. Also named as executive producers is Rod Roddenberry and Roddenberry Entertainment COO Trevor Roth.

Alex Kurtzman said in a statement:

“With overwhelming joy, it’s a privilege to welcome Sir Patrick Stewart back to the Star Trek fold. For over 20 years, fans have hoped for the return of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and that day is finally here. We can’t wait to forge new ground, surprise people, and honor generations both new and old.”

Alex Kurtzman at Star Trek Las Vegas 2018

Stewart’s statement on Twitter

Sir Patrick also issued a statement about his return to Trek on social media.

More STLV 2018

Stay tuned for more daily coverage here at TrekMovie.com. Also be sure to follow along with our social media reporting from STLV on Twitter and Instagram. CLICK HERE to see all of our STLV coverage.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/04/breaking-new-star-trek-tv-series-starring-patrick-stewart-as-jean-luc-picard-announced/feed/688STLV18: ‘What We Left Behind’ Producers Promise 2018 Release Of DS9 Doc, Say Avery Brooks Is Involvedhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/04/stlv18-what-we-left-behind-producers-promise-2018-release-of-ds9-doc-say-avery-brooks-is-involved/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/04/stlv18-what-we-left-behind-producers-promise-2018-release-of-ds9-doc-say-avery-brooks-is-involved/#commentsSat, 04 Aug 2018 19:18:03 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56876On Friday the team behind What We Left Behind held a panel at Star Trek Las Vegas to give fans an update on the upcoming Star Trek: Deep Space Nine documentary. We have all the highlights.

Committed to 2018 release

It was acknowledged that the biggest question the DS9 Doc team had to answer was when will it be released. According to the producers, they remain committed to releasing it in 2018 “for sure” on Blu-ray and DVD to campaign backers and those who pre-order the Blu-ray/DVD Combo set, which will remain available to pre-order on the official site up until release.

They are also looking to sign with some kind of distributor for a later, wider release, possibly with a streaming service. Producer Ira Steven Behr said a theatrical release was unlikely, however they remain committed to doing premiere screenings in Los Angeles, New York and London, but didn’t offer any dates or details.

Editors Luke Snailham and Joseph Kornbrodt gave an update on the status of the doc and what they mean when they reported it was “picture locked” last month saying that the “story is in place” and that the run time is set for about an hour and forty-eight minutes, not counting credits. What remains to be done is the process of replacing clips of Deep Space Nine in standard definition with new clips remastered in HD, color correcting, sound mixing and music.

It was noted that the editing is taking place on the Paramount lot, right across from the original DS9 stages. Ira quipped how strange it is for him to go to work every day right across from Stages 17 and 18, adding “there is a beautiful symmetry” to it.

Blu-ray/DVD combo will be released this year

Brooks is watching over the doc, just not doing a new interview

It has already been reported that Deep Space Nine star Avery Brooks did not record a new interview for the doc, although he does appear in archival interviews. However, that doesn’t mean he isn’t involved. Ira explained:

Avery is done talking about Deep Space Nine. He has said everything that he wanted to say, not just in terms of the doc, but in coming to conventions. I would love it to change, I would like him to change his mind, but the amount of conversations we have had in terms of having him participate just finally ran its course…He is very involved. He questions [producer] Dave Zappone all the time. He wants to know how it is going, who have we talked to, who have we not talked to. So, he is watching over the doc.

Zappone also confirmed that he speaks with Brooks weekly, adding “Avery and I have long, interesting discussions. I have to say he has been fully supportive and he is looking forward to seeing this film.”

They also showed a clip from the doc, which emphasized how this all worked. The segment focused on the relationship between Brooks and Cirroc Lofton and how they bonded playing father and son on the show. The clip featured old and new interviews along with segments from the show, which, as pointed out by editor Joseph Kornbrodt, were remastered in HD.

Producers DavidZappone and Ira Steven Behr say Avery Brooks is very much involved with their DS9 doc

It’s about family

According to the DS9 Doc team, the clip shown was also tied into what they saw as a theme for the documentary, as explained by producer Kai de Mello-Folsom:

We’ve done our best to include as many people in the film as we can. We have done 40 or 50 interviews at this point…We are mere mortals and can’t get to everybody who was involved in the show. But, these guys editing the film have tried to keep the stories about family. One of our big themes throughout is about family.

Ira Steven Behr also talked about how there is a strong emotional element to the film:

We did about 120 hours of interviews with cast and crew and ancillary people involved with the show…I could not believe how emotional people would get…It’s the 25th anniversary and most people don’t get to do a victory lap for the work that they have done and this doc is kind of a victory lap. When people sit and start talking about how much effort they put into the show and how much it means to them in retrospect, people got very emotional in the interviews. I am not just talking about actors, who can turn it on and turn it off. I am talking about crew people. It was an emotional time doing all of this. That was the biggest surprise, how much the show lives on in all of us.

What We Left Behind producer Kai de Mello-Folsom at STLV 2018

Writer’s Room segment details

It was revealed that the segment of the documentary based on a reunion of the DS9 writers room will be about 18-20 minutes within the doc. The segment features DS9 writers Ira Steven Behr, Ronald D. Moore, Robert Hewitt Wolfe, Hans Beimler and Rene Eschevierra breaking the story for what would have been the first episode of an eighth season of Deep Space Nine. They have also hired an animator to illustrate parts of this notional episode.

Behr described what it was like shooting the writer’s room reunion:

It was an amazing day. It was an unbelievable day. It’s not like we hadn’t seen each other individually, but to get us all in a room together…What you see, is what happens that day. It wasn’t like we talked ahead of time and came up with ideas, so that we look good. We all had thoughts, but what you see is what happened that day.

While the room segment will be cut down for the doc, with six hours of footage, the team are hoping to find a way in the future to release it in full, to show the intricacies of the writer’s room process.

The team also noted that the Blu-ray and DVD releases will also feature “a lot” of special features, with Behr noting “you will be pleasantly surprised.”

Holding out hope for release of DS9 in HD

As is inevitable at one of these events a fan asked if Deep Space Nine would be remastered and released in HD, like The Original Series and The Next Generation. Ira empathized, but also noted there is a reason it hasn’t happened yet, saying:

When I see some of the clips in standard def, especially from seasons one and two, and then I see them remastered, it’s like “Holy…fill in the blank.” It’s a crime…I can’t look at them in standard def. But the fact remains, it is expensive as hell to remaster these films, to remaster the special effects.

However, he later offered a ray of hope, noting that that CBS has been very helpful on the project, and that if the documentary proves successful and popular, it might spark some interest:

If it does well, if the support the support is as big as we hope it is going to be since 2013 when the tied seemed to have turned about Deep Space Nine. If the powers that be see that people are paying and want to see this doc, maybe they will decide “Hey, let’s roll up our sleeves and do the work that is necessary.”

Living Deep Space Nine

Ira concluded the panel, but giving a heartfelt thanks to the fans, saying:

When we were doing the show, at the time we were not feeling the love. For seven years we were not feeling the love. What I used to tell the writers is we were doing the show for ourselves and to really understand Deep Space Nine, you had to live Deep Space Nine. It wasn’t a show you could come to and half-ass. You had to really watch it and really follow it. This is the nineties, before TV became what it has become. And I said that’s good, we live it, we are the ones that understand the show. And I just wanted to say that twenty-five years later to be around you people and to walk around this hotel and constantly meet people who suddenly live Deep Space Nine. So, from me to thee, thank you all.

Ira Steven Behr is heartened by the renewed interest in Deep Space Nine

More STLV 2018

Stay tuned for more daily coverage here at TrekMovie.com. Also be sure to follow along with our social media reporting from STLV on Twitter and Instagram. CLICK HERE to see all of our STLV coverage.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/04/stlv18-what-we-left-behind-producers-promise-2018-release-of-ds9-doc-say-avery-brooks-is-involved/feed/31STLV18: Rainn Wilson Says ‘Star Trek: Short Treks’ Mudd Episode Will Be “Funny And Weird”https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/03/stlv18-rainn-wilson-says-star-trek-short-treks-mudd-episode-will-be-funny-and-weird/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/03/stlv18-rainn-wilson-says-star-trek-short-treks-mudd-episode-will-be-funny-and-weird/#commentsSat, 04 Aug 2018 03:18:44 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56862Following Thursday’s appearance of Jaason Isaacs, Friday saw the second Star Trek: Discovery actor to appear at Star Trek Las Vegas with Rainn Wilson, and it was his first time at STLV too. The actor who stepped into the iconic role of Harry Mudd for two episodes during Discovery’s first season talked about why he wanted the job so badly. He also offered some clues about his upcoming Short Treks episode, gave some behind the scenes details for season one, and even talked a little Galaxy Quest.

Mudd Short Treks episode is going to get weird

At San Diego Comic-Con it was announced that this fall CBS All Access would begin running a series called Star Trek: Short Treks, which would be a series of short character-focused mini-episodes tied into Discovery. One of the Short Treks episodes will focus on the character of Harry Mudd, with Rainn Wilson reprising the role and directing the episode.

At STLV, Wilson said that he wasn’t too sure about the project when he was first approached by Discovery producers, but changed his mind when he saw the “fantastic” script, which he revealed was written by one writers for the hit cult sci-fi animated series Rick and Morty. Here is how Wilson described his Short Treks episode:

It is very funny and weird. You see some alien situations you have never seen before in the Star Trek canon, and I am thrilled.

When asked how it ties into the timeline of his previous two episodes from Discovery, Wilson replied:

I am assuming it is after [“Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad”], but it stands alone. It doesn’t really tie into the Discovery, so I am not sure.

Wilson said that even though he directed a number of episodes of The Office, working on Star Trek was more intricate since it involves special effects. He has been paired up with a story board artist and described the process thus:

I am learning a ton. I feel really privileged to be able to do it. I think the fans are just going to love this.

Rainn Wilson attends his first Star Trek convention at STLV 2018

Star Trek was a dream come true

Getting the job on Star Trek was something Wilson actively persued, as he is a self-described “huge Trekkie,” telling the crowd he asked his agent to reach out to the producers of the show after it was initially announced. There was a meeting set up early on as the show was in development, but the producers told him that he wasn’t a fit for any of the series regulars. Wilson said getting asked later to come and play Harry Mudd was “literally my dream come true.”

Wilson also described how he especially nerded out shooting his second episode because he was able to shoot a phaser, get transported and sit in the Captain’s chair. He was particularly proud to be the only non-Captain to ever record a Captain’s Log in Star Trek, which he said was his idea.

The self-described Trekkie is thrilled to be part of Star Trek

Rebooting Mudd with an edge, but still funny

Wilson talked about the approach to “reboot” the character of Harry Mudd for Discovery. He had high praise for the original actor to play the part, Roger C. Carmel, but also noted that the show needed a different approach:

I talked a lot to the writers about what the Star Trek: Discovery universe was. It is a time of war with the Klingons, and it is much darker, and it needs to reflect our modern times…We talked a little bit about the role that Harry Mudd would play and what he is up to and I knew I had to bring a kind of edge to him, that hadn’t been in the character previously, in order to make him fit in. If you took Roger Carmel and put him into Discovery it wouldn’t work.

He found it exciting to play a character that was “part villain and part comic relief,” also noting “Discovery could use a little laughter. It is just so damn serious all the time.” As a fan, Wilson said he always liked how “humor has always been a part” of Star Trek. Later during the Q&A Wilson confirmed that he was allowed to improvise a lot during the shooting of his two episodes, adding he was glad the show allowed him to use what he sees as one of his strengths.

When a fan suggested that his Mudd was actually from the Mirror Universe, Wilson dismissed the notion, but he did note he “sure would love to meet the Mirror Universe Harry Mudd. He would just be a mean bastard. He would f–k you up.”

Rain Wilson feels humor is still an important part of Discovery

High praise for Sullivan for “Magic” rewrite

Wilson talked at length about life on the set for his two episode. His first day on the job for Discovery was “a little intimidating and overwhelming,” especially as he was thrown right into a scene without rehearsal with Jason Isaacs, adding how he had to be on the top of his game to “go toe-to-toe” Isaacs. The actor also noted that at first it was “tricky” to find the “voice” of his version of Mudd, who had a more flowery way of speaking, especially compared to other characters within Discovery

Regarding his second episode, “Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad,” Wilson revealed he had to think fast on his feet as the script that was shot was “completely different” than the script he was given the week before production started. However, he also had high praise for writer and co-executive producer (and not the credited writer for the episode) Ted Sullivan for making it work, saying:

It was pretty early on in the series and there had been some writer turnover. They were really finding their sea legs as a series. So, a lot of it was scrapped and rewritten at the last minute, or the three or four days before we starting shooting, there was a mammoth rewrite on that Mudd stuff.

I just want to give a shout-out to a very special writer on the current staff named Ted Sullivan. He is really something. He flew in from LA and he really helped me a lot, with the character and with the plotting. The directors were great as well, but he is a great resource in the Star Trek universe. I really enjoyed working with him. I think he really got Harry Mudd’s voice and he is a great asset to that writer’s room.

Rainn Wilson in “Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad”

Galaxy Quest flashbacks

Rainn Wilson noted when he got on stage at Star Trek Las Vegas that it was “like Galaxy Quest come to life,” referring to the 1999 parody/homage to Star Trek, which was also his first job as an actor in a feature film. He was particularly impressed to see some cosplayers as Thermians, like his character from Galaxy Quest. Later on he joked he was “having flashbacks” to the movie and how he was expecting a space ship to crash into the convention, as it did in the film.

Rainn Wilson saw STLV as Galaxy Quest coming to life

More STLV 2018

Stay tuned for more daily coverage here at TrekMovie.com. Also be sure to follow along with our social media reporting from STLV on Twitter and Instagram. CLICK HERE to see all of our STLV coverage.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/03/stlv18-rainn-wilson-says-star-trek-short-treks-mudd-episode-will-be-funny-and-weird/feed/10Shmaltz Profit Motive Beer Launched At STLV To Celebrate ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/03/shmaltz-profit-motive-beer-launched-at-stlv-to-celebrate-star-trek-deep-space-nine/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/03/shmaltz-profit-motive-beer-launched-at-stlv-to-celebrate-star-trek-deep-space-nine/#commentsFri, 03 Aug 2018 22:07:29 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56857Now you can drink a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Today at Star Trek Las Vegas, Shmaltz Brewing launched their latest Star Trek themed beer. The new “Profit Motive” golden ale is available at the Rio Suites Hotel as well as the Millennium Bar, during the run of the convention through to Sunday, August 5th. Following the con, it will be launched nationwide.

Clifton Park, NY — Friday, August 3, 2018 — Shmaltz Brewing Company goes to the official Star Trek Las Vegas Convention 2018 with a unique Collector’s Edition release commemorating the 25th Anniversary of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. 2018 marks 25 years since Star Trek: Deep Space Nine premiered in 1993, and Shmaltz Brewing kicks off the anniversary festivities in Las Vegas with tasting opportunities at The Rio Suites Hotel and Millennium Fandom Bar from August 3-5, 2018. CBS Studios has teamed up with Shmaltz for the only officially licensed Star Trek beers in the United States.

In 2016, Shmaltz debuted two critically acclaimed Star Trek Golden Anniversary Ales to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the iconic franchise, Star Trek. 2017 brought quadruple the excitement commemorating the 30th Anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation with four limited edition Star Trek specialty beers under license by CBS Consumer Products: Star Trek Klingon Imperial Porter® (7.3% ABV), Star Trek Symbiosis® (5.5% ABV), Star Trek Captain’s Holiday (5.5% ABV), and Star Trek Mirror Universe (5% ABV). In August 2018, the latest offering Star Trek Profit Motive transports itself in 4-packs to retail outlets and will be available on draft at select bars in 30 states across the country through Shmaltz’s new national sales relationship with Artisanal Imports.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 25th Anniversary Ale — Profit Motive
Quark’s Bar, Grill, Gaming House and Holosuite Arcade is the central attraction of Deep Space 9’s Promenade, offering drink, food, gossip, gambling, and fantasy fulfillment. Quark, the establishment’s proprietor, is a Ferengi entrepreneur and sometimes petty criminal who conducts all his business in gold pressed latinum. Quark, like all Ferengi, is motivated by profit and piling up strips, bars and bricks of latinum.

Shmaltz Brewing Company is hyper motivated to brew high quality award-winning beer, and the hopped up golden ale Star Trek Profit Motive is no exception. Feesha vou dole! (We hit the jackpot!) So whether you’re a Trekkie or a craft beer enthusiast, get motivated to drink this latest extraterrestrial offering in the Star Trek beer series. Gar-day latinum sou-tah! (This is worth its weight in latinum.)

About Shmaltz Brewing Company
Founder and owner Jeremy Cowan established Shmaltz Brewing in San Francisco in 1996. The first 100 cases of He’brew Beer® were hand-bottled and delivered throughout the Bay Area from the back of his Grandmother’s Volvo. Shmaltz Brewing now sells He’brew Beer across 30 states, through 40 wholesalers and in nearly 5,000 retailers.

After 17 years of being an outspoken cheerleader for contract brewing, Cowan and staff opened their own New York State production brewery in 2013 in Clifton Park, 10 minutes north of Albany. Shmaltz’s home boasts a 50-barrel brewhouse with 30,000 barrels of annual capacity and packages a diverse and tasty variety of core and seasonal favorites in 12 and 22-ounce bottles and kegs. The Shmaltz Tasting Room is open six days a week (Tues-Sun) and offers tours, barrel-aged previews, beer to- go, and special releases.

RateBeer.com ranked Shmaltz as one of the “Top 100 Brewers in the World” in 2013, and the brewery recently brought home 1 platinum, 10 gold and 6 silver medals from the World Beer Championships.

In the past several years, Shmaltz Brewing introduced its line of upstate New York focused farm beers under the 518/838 Craft brand name, acquired and rebranded the Alphabet City Brewing beers, and signed an exclusive licensing agreement with CBS for a series of Star Trek beers distributed through its sales network. In 2018, Shmaltz also signed a national sales and marketing partnership with Artisanal brands, who represents renowned brewers such as Bosteels (Triple Karmeliet), La Trappe, and American craft brewers Fulton (MN) and Whiner (IL).

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/03/shmaltz-profit-motive-beer-launched-at-stlv-to-celebrate-star-trek-deep-space-nine/feed/5STLV18: Jeri Ryan Says She Was Never Set To Replace Marina Sirtis In ‘Star Trek: Nemesis’https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/03/stlv18-jeri-ryan-says-she-was-never-set-to-replace-marina-sirtis-in-star-trek-nemesis/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/03/stlv18-jeri-ryan-says-she-was-never-set-to-replace-marina-sirtis-in-star-trek-nemesis/#commentsFri, 03 Aug 2018 19:18:21 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56848On Thursday one of the more fun panels at the Star Trek Las Vegas convention was with much of the cast of Star Trek: Voyager. On hand were Robert Beltran, Ethan Phillips, Garrett Wang, Tim Russ and Jeri Ryan. And it was Ryan who made a bit of news, clarifying a bit of news that arose from Star Trek Las Vegas 2017. We also have more photo highlights from Thursday at STLV 2018.

Voyager stars at STLV 2018

Seven of Nine was not set to replace Troi in Nemesis

A year ago from Star Trek Las Vegas 2017, TrekMovie reported on a comment made by Star Trek: The NextGeneration’s Marina Sirtis regarding her salary negotiations with Paramount for the 2002 TNG film Star Trek: Nemesis. At last year’s con the TNG actress asserted that Paramount played hardball, including threatening to fire her from the film and replace her character Troi with Jeri Ryan’s Seven of Nine, from Star Trek: Voyager.

In years past Jeri Ryan had already discussed how she had turned down an offer to be in Nemesis to replace an unnamed character, so Sirtis’ comment seemed to put the pieces together. However, it apparently does not. Yesterday at Star Trek Las Vegas 2018, Ryan was asked about the Nemesis offer and Sirtis’ comment from 2017, and the actress said:

That was never mentioned to me. They did offer a role in Nemesis, to replace a different character. It was not Marina. I’m not mentioning it, because it was ridiculous. There was absolutely no reason to replace this character with Seven of Nine, so obviously we didn’t do it. So, it was not Marina, for the record.

Ryan acknowledges that while she was never told about replacing Sirits, she doesn’t rule out that she was used by Paramount as a form of leverage, noting:

They may have used that as a negotiating tactic, against her. Which is not real nice, but that’s not actually who they wanted to replace.

So, this resets the mystery of what character in Nemesis would have been replaced by Ryan’s Seven of Nine. One possibility could be Seven replacing Kate Mulgrew’s Admiral Janeway, who appeared in Nemesis in a brief cameo. It is understandable to see how Ryan would have been reluctant to replace her Voyager co-star. However, how she has described the offer in the past, makes it seem like Seven of Nine would have had a more significant role in the film, had she accepted.

Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine on Star Trek: Voyager and Kate Mulgrew as Adm. Janeway in Star Trek: Nemesis

Wang thinks Voyager movie should have replaced Nemesis

Speaking of Nemesis, which has been critiqued by both fans and the the TNG actors themselves, Garrett Wang had a solution for an alternative. He thinks instead of releasing Nemesis in 2002, Paramount should have wrapped up the story of Star Trek: Voyager on the big screen, following its 2001 series finale. Here is Wang’s suggestion:

I think Voyager’s “Endgame,” the final episode, the first hour was amazing. The second hour tied things up too quickly, right? They should have aired the first hour on your television screen and on the end say “To be continued in a theater near you” and and film a Voyager two and a half hour movie, got rid of the Nemesis script. Because, let’s face it, if your TNG feature film script is not as good as certain TNG TV episodes, don’t film it. Sorry.

Guest stars of the Star Trek universe

More STLV 2018

Stay tuned for more daily coverage here at TrekMovie.com. Also be sure to follow along with our social media reporting from STLV on Twitter and Instagram. CLICK HERE to see all of our STLV coverage.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/03/stlv18-jeri-ryan-says-she-was-never-set-to-replace-marina-sirtis-in-star-trek-nemesis/feed/78STLV18: Jason Isaacs Talks Canon, Controversy, Space Wedgies And Why He Joined ‘Star Trek: Discovery’https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/02/stlv18-jason-isaacs-talks-canon-controversy-space-wedgies-and-why-he-joined-star-trek-discovery/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/02/stlv18-jason-isaacs-talks-canon-controversy-space-wedgies-and-why-he-joined-star-trek-discovery/#commentsFri, 03 Aug 2018 05:23:35 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56821The highlight for Thursday at the Star Trek Las Vegas con was Jason Isaacs. This was the first STLV appearance for the actor who played the enigmatic Captain Gabriel Lorca in the first season of Star Trek: Discovery. While on stage he talked about why he was reluctant to take the job, what he learned about Star Trek, as well as revealing some fun behind-the-scenes tidbits from life on the set.

Stays mum on return of Lorca

Early on in his time on stage, Jason Isaacs addressed what is likely what is top of mind for many fans, by letting the audience know he wasn’t going to talk about Lorca coming back, saying:

You can ask me any questions, any questions you like, including questions about any future sightings of Lorca, anywhere in Star Trek and I will probably continue to lie and keep secrets, like I did last year. You can ask anything you like, but you will get nothing out of me.

Later during the Q&A as he threw fortune cookies into the crowd, a fan did ask if the “good” Lorca would be make an appearance, and Isaacs feigned that he couldn’t hear the question, quipping “Sorry I can’t hear what you are saying…The mic is not working, next person…”

Needed to know Lorca’s secret to take the Job

Isaacs talked about how he “just loved” the original Star Trek when he was young and “worshiped” Captain Kirk, who he saw as a role model on how to be a man. Which is why, he said, he was reluctant to take the part of Lorca when he was first approached. He was concerned that he could only be a “pale copy” of what had come before. However, he became more intrigued by the show when he learned it would be serialized and would deal with “headline” and “hot topic issues.” He was also attracted to the idea that the show would star Sonequa Martin-Green, who he admired from The Walking Dead.

The thing that convinced him was through a series of Skype chats with producers, where it was revealed that Lorca would have a secret, something he relished as an actor, noting “What actors love is a secret. It’s a five-course meal. It gives you something to play.” However, Isaacs revealed that in these early chats, the writers and producers hadn’t exactly worked out what Lorca’s “secret agenda” was beyond being from the Mirror Universe. He recalled the conversation:

They said it’s either going to be that he wants to get back [to the Mirror Universe], or he wants to bring people here, or he wants to conquer it, or he wants to take her there, or he wants to partner up with her, or he wants to kill people. I said I can’t play that, that is a hundred different things. When you have a secret, you know what your secret is. If I am going to act it, I need to know what the secret is.

This ambiguity left Isaacs wary until subsequently (now former) executive producer Akiva Goldsman told him he could be “part of the discussion and part of evolving” the character, which he appreciated, adding “I jumped in and I am so glad that I did. It turned out to be one of the great experiences of my working life.”

This was Jason Isaac’s first Star Trek convention

Canon and controversy

The actor also talked about some of the early fan discussion of the show, before it ever got on the air, noting that he understood how many were skeptical:

These stories had been told in a world of love and inclusiveness for so many decades and people were rightly very reticent about whether we were going to do it badly and whether we were going to honor Gene Roddenberry’s original vision.

He also assured fans that much care and discussion went into every decision, including things that were different about the show:

What no one realized until we started, and I think you all realized pretty soon, is the writer’s room is full of insane Trekkers, insane geeks, who would spend days arguing over canon and whether something was hard canon or soft canon…They would argue over what was and wasn’t allowed. Believe me, the redesign of things, the Klingons for instance, or of the communication tools, was the subject of endless, endless debate. Nothing was done lightly and nothing was done cynically.

However, the actor had no empathy for online trolls who sent him, Sonequa Martin-Green and others hateful messages, attacking the show over its diversity. He dismissed them as people who “were not Star Trek fans and had never seen an episode and they didn’t know what the great legacy was.”

The actor also went on to note that as they were making the show, he came to appreciate the “huge legacy” of Star Trek and how Discovery was dealing with modern issues, saying:

Something about the process made us all realize that it is so much more than a story and these are so much more than characters. It represents something important and increasingly important in this world where hate is getting pumped out on political platforms all over the world…This is a show that posits a world where the color of your skin and your religion and your sexuality and even your species, shouldn’t be a barrier between beings. And they are all working for the greater good.

And that is something we didn’t realize. We are all actors. I’m an actor. I got there and all I wanted to do is say “Energize” one time. That’s all I wanted to do. Point a phaser at someone and I was done. We all gradually realized we are responsible for something bigger than that. That this legacy and this mission of Roddenberry’s, to tell the world we are capable of better stuff and how important it was. And we all feel that responsibility. As well as to be entertaining.

Jason Isaacs at STLV 2018

Game nights and Disco’s solution to the Picard Manuever

The actor also revealed some fun tidbits about life on set for Star Trek: Discovery. One way the cast bonded early on was Sonequa Martin-Green’s insistence that they all socialize with game nights, which became a “regular thing” at his house in Toronto. He noted it was a great way to break down barriers, saying:

We all kind of bonded. Everybody met regularly and we had a fantastic time outside of work. So, when we got to work, it was like a bunch of friends. There was no hierarchy. The people who had no lines or one line were just part of the family.

Isaacs had a lot to say about the costumes on the show, describing them as a “gastric band” due to how tight they were. He joked that this was one area where the show wasn’t living up to its ideals, saying:

Although the future is all-inclusive when it comes races and sexuality and physical types, but there can be no creases, apparently. It was very, very important from CBS that the clothes should never have a crease in them.

He explained how for Discovery the solution to minimize creases and solve the “Picard Manuever” issue of the jackets riding up whenever you stood up was solved by having the jackets zipped to the pants. However, this created a new problem that whenever you lifted your arms up, you would get a “front wedgie” creating what he described as “space camel toe.”

The actor noted that when the first image of Lorca was released, it revealed a “tremendously controversial crease” which he joked resulted in “everybody getting fired.” In the end, the only way to make things work was for him to have two jackets, one for when he was seated and one for when he was standing, and they had to swap them out between takes.

This first image of Lorca, which showed him with a creased uniform, apparently caused an uproar

More STLV to come

Thursday was day two for Star Trek Las Vegas, with three more to go. If you want to preview what is happening, check out our highlights from the schedule. Stay tuned for more daily coverage here at TrekMovie.com. Also be sure to follow along with our social media reporting from STLV on Twitter and Instagram.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/02/stlv18-jason-isaacs-talks-canon-controversy-space-wedgies-and-why-he-joined-star-trek-discovery/feed/57STLV18: Check Out New And Exclusive Star Trek Products From Titan, Roddenberry, And Othershttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/02/stlv18-check-out-new-and-exclusive-star-trek-products-from-titan-roddenberry-and-others/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/02/stlv18-check-out-new-and-exclusive-star-trek-products-from-titan-roddenberry-and-others/#commentsThu, 02 Aug 2018 19:53:09 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56804For collectors, the Vendors’ Room at Star Trek Las Vegas is always a big highlight. This year a number of the Star Trek licensees had exclusives and debuts to show off, just for STLV.

Titan Discovery mini figure con exclusives

The folks at Titan are offering two convention exclusives, both from Star Trek: Discovery. The first is a 3″ Michael Burnham mini vinyl figure, priced at $10. The second is a 4.5″ USS Discovery vinyl figure. Both are limited editions, but if they have any left over after the con they will be available online.

Roddenberry Picard Desk Computer Replica

The folks at Roddenberry are showing off the latest replica from their Picard Desk Set series. Exclusively available to pre-order at the convention is a replica of Picard’s ready room computer. According to Roddenberry, each replica computer is machined from a solid block of polymer and uses the original technique from the series in recreating the LCARS graphic.

The specific graphic used for the replica is from the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Suddenly Human.” The replica retails for $2,500 and they plan to only make 90 units, which they expect will sell out at the con. If they don’t, it will be made available online after STLV.

Roddenberry was also showing off a new set of Saurian Brandy glasses, along with a bottle. The glasses are available to order now online for $149. However, the bottle is not yet available as they are currently gauging interest.

Eaglemoss “Ripper”

At the Eaglemoss booth they were showing off their brand new “Ripper” the tardigrade figure, which is a bonus gift exclusively for those who subscribe to their Star Trek: Discovery ships collection.

Eaglemoss was also selling their STLV convention exclusive USS Glenn XL ship from Star Trek: Discovery, which we previewed earlier this week.

Gold Bubble dresses

Gold Bubble Clothing is selling five new Star Trek A-Line dresses at STLV. They have two different TNG uniform-style dresses, one Wesley Crusher -styled dress, a Discovery mirror universe dress and a Discovery ship dress. All are marked down for the con to $76 from the regular price of $85.

Hallmark con-exclusive TAS ornaments

Hallmark was also in the Vendor’s room, showing off their 2018 line of Star Trek Pop Minded Keepsake ornaments and Star Trek plushes, which we previewed earlier this year.

Of particular interest to fans at STLV was their convention exclusive Star Trek: The Animated Series set of two ornaments with Arex and M’Ress, which they also had at SDCC and will also be selling at NYCC in October. These are the first ever TAS ornaments for Hallmark and the set is selling for $40 for the pair.

More STLV to come

We are just getting started with our coverage from Star Trek Las Vegas, which runs through Sunday. If you want to preview what is happening, check out our highlights from the schedule. Stay tuned for more daily coverage here at TrekMovie.com. Also be sure to follow along with our social media reporting from STLV on Twitter and Instagram.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/02/stlv18-check-out-new-and-exclusive-star-trek-products-from-titan-roddenberry-and-others/feed/14GIVEAWAY: Celebrate “Star Trek Online: Victory is Life” On Consoles And Win Leeta As Tactical Bridge Officerhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/02/giveaway-celebrate-star-trek-online-victory-is-life-on-consoles-and-win-leeta-as-tactical-bridge-officer/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/02/giveaway-celebrate-star-trek-online-victory-is-life-on-consoles-and-win-leeta-as-tactical-bridge-officer/#commentsThu, 02 Aug 2018 16:04:31 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56745Victory is Life, the fourth major expansion of Star Trek Online, is now available on consoles. This new update celebrates the anniversary of Deep Space Nine by reuniting a dozen of the show’s original cast members to reprise their roles in the game, including Armin Shimerman (Quark), René Auberjonois (Odo), Nana Visitor (Kira) and many more. Victory is Life also introduces a new playable Jem’Hadar playable faction, increased level cap, new battlezone and added progression system.

Win Leeta As A Bridge Officer

To celebrate the console release of Victory Is Life, we are giving 50 lucky players Leeta as a tactical bridge officer. We have 25 codes each for PS4 and Xbox One to give away.

Bring some extra help on your away missions in Star Trek Online with the photonic Leeta tactical Bridge Officer. Choose from Dabo outfit Leeta or Mirror Admiral uniform Leeta. The Holo Leeta bridge officer can be commissioned by Starfleet or Klingon captains – and can be commissioned by Romulan captains after they choose an ally faction at level 10. For this particular Bridge Officer, no additional customization options are enabled.

How To Win

To win one of 50 codes all you need to do is make a comment below telling us why you want Leeta as your your Tactical Bridge Officer. Make sure to use a working email address so we can get back in touch with you. TrekMovie staff will review the entries and notify winners starting Wednesday, August 8th. NOTE, codes are only available to PS4 players in North America. XBox One codes are universal. And you need only make one comment to enter.

UPDATE August 8: Comments are now closed. Winners will be notified via the e-mail they used to comment with shortly.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/02/giveaway-celebrate-star-trek-online-victory-is-life-on-consoles-and-win-leeta-as-tactical-bridge-officer/feed/75Brent Spiner of ‘Star Trek: TNG’ Cast As Vice President In ‘Supergirl’https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/01/brent-spiner-of-star-trek-tng-cast-as-vice-president-in-supergirl/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/01/brent-spiner-of-star-trek-tng-cast-as-vice-president-in-supergirl/#commentsThu, 02 Aug 2018 02:14:31 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56793Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Brent Spiner is headed to another genre show, this time the CW’s Supergirl. Today Warner Bros. TV announced that Spiner has been tapped for a recurring role in the show’s fourth season.

Supergirl elects Spiner

The man who played Data in seven TV show seasons and four Star Trek: The Next Generation feature films will be playing Vice President Baker on Supergirl, described thus: “Adept and politically minded, VP Baker makes for an unlikely leader, but steps up in a big way when his country needs him most.”

Brent Spiner will play the Vice President on Supergirl

The character of President Olivia Marsdin, played by 1970s Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter in a recurring role, has already been established on Supergirl. The description of Spiner’s VP suggests he could possibly have to “step up” to the big job himself.

Lynda Carter as President Olivia Marsdin in Supergirl

Spiner isn’t the only Star Trek vet to appear on Supergirl; last season, Voyager‘s Tuvok, Tim Russ, popped up in the episode “Dark Side of the Moon” as a council member from the Kryptonian city of Argo.

Tim Russ as Jul-Us in season 3 of Supergirl

Supergirl returns for its fourth season on October 14 in its new timeslot of Sunday at 8/7c on The CW. You can watch the SDCC trailer below.

The android just keeps going and going

69-year-old Spiner also has a recurring role on the Cinemax horror series Outcast, playing a bad guy possessed by a demon. In recent years Spiner has also had a recurring role on the Showtime drama Ray Donovan as well as guest spots on The Blacklist and Blunt Talk, a series starring his former TNG co-star Sir Patrick Stewart. In 2016 Spiner reprised his role as Dr. Brackish Okun in Independence Day: Resurgence.

Brent Spiner as Sidney in Outcast

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/01/brent-spiner-of-star-trek-tng-cast-as-vice-president-in-supergirl/feed/27STLV18: Fourth ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Novel And More Announced, Kelvin Timeline Books Being Consideredhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/01/stlv18-fourth-star-trek-discovery-novel-and-more-books-announced-at-authors-panel/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/01/stlv18-fourth-star-trek-discovery-novel-and-more-books-announced-at-authors-panel/#commentsWed, 01 Aug 2018 23:58:53 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56783On opening day of the Star Trek Las Vegas convention, an early panel with Star Trek authors broke some news by announcing three new Trek novels coming in 2019. TrekMovie was there and we’re kicking off our STLV 2018 coverage with all the details.

4th Star Trek: Discovery novel to focus on Tilly

Starting with David Mack’s Desperate Hours last September, there have been two additional Star Trek: Discovery novel tie-ins: Dayton Ward’s Drastic Measures, and James Swallow’s Fear Itself, which came out in June. At a panel at Star Trek Las Vegas, Gallery Books editor Ed Schlesinger revealed the next novel in the series will be titled The Way to the Stars, and is being written by Una McCormack. The novel will be released in January 2019. According to Schlesinger, this new novel will “deal with primarily Sylvia Tilly.”

Ed also read off the official description:

It’s not easy being sixteen, especially when everyone expects great things from Tilly. It’s even harder when her mother and father are Federation luminaries, not to mention pressing her to attend one of the best schools that the Federation has to offer. Tilly wants to achieve great things — even though she hasn’t quite worked out how to do that or what it is she wants to do. But this year, everything will change for Tilly, as she about to embark upon the adventure of a lifetime — an adventure that will take her ever closer to the stars.

Tying Discovery novels to the show

Schlesinger also spoke about how he works with Discovery writer Kirsten Beyer and the writers’ room to have the novels tie into the show and have the show tie into the books:

Having Kirsten Beyer in the writers’ room has been absolutely invaluable, primarily because the Discovery universe is being created and shaped and formed and being augmented by the novel program itself. We are able to go back and forth in terms of ideas, in terms of where these characters develop and what we are going to be seeing.

We are also in a very unique position where these ideas are being batted back and forth, and so events and references are being introduced in the novels, that you are going to be seeing on the series, and vice-versa.

John Van Citters of CBS Consumer Products, who was moderating the panel, noted that James Swallow’s recent Saru-focused novel Fear Itself was actually held back as they developed the character. While he noted he couldn’t say anything about the second season of Discovery, it has already been confirmed that there will be an episode in the second season that will visit Saru’s home planet and explore more about the character and Kelpiens in general.

More new Star Trek novels coming from Simon & Schuster

2018 has seen a slowdown in Star Trek novels from Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books, but Van Citters and Schlesinger promised things will be picking up again in 2019. In addition to the Star Trek: Discovery novel, they announced two new novels coming in early 2019.

March 2019: The Antares Maelstrom, by Greg Cox

Star Trek: The Original Series novel set during the five-year mission which will explore the Antares Maelstrom referenced by Khan, although he will not be a character in the novel. Schlesinger described the maelstrom as “this vast region of space, of violent energies, that are effectively impossible.”

Here is the official description:

Baldur-3 is an obscure planet just beyond the outer fringes of Federation space, until a group of struggling colonists discover vast quantities of the energy source pergium beneath the planet’s surface. An old-fashioned “gold rush” is now underway—a chaotic situation, as neighboring planets and space stations are vastly ill-equipped to deal with the flood of vessels and aliens competing to get to the planet in time to stake their claims. Although Baldur-3 isn’t technically under Federation jurisdiction, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise are soon diverted to deal with the crisis . . . one which lies on the other side of the dangerous area of space known as the Antares Maelstrom

April 2019: Available Light, by Dayton Ward

Star Trek: The Next Generation novel set in the post-Nemesis era after the events of Ward’s 2017 TNG novel Hearts and Minds and David Mack’s Section 31 novel Control.

Following the panel, StarTrek.com posted the following synopsis for the novel:

As fallout from the exposure of the “Control” AI security program and the unchecked crimes of Section 31 spans the entire Alpha Quadrant and ultimately reaches the halls of Starfleet Command, the admiralty must decide what the consequences will be for their own… including Captain Jean-Luc Picard, who helped bring down a Federation president and violated the principles of his oath. Meanwhile, deep in the unexplored section of space known as the Odyssean Pass, Picard and the Enterprise crew must put aside personal feelings on the matter and distant political concerns as they investigate the mystery a centuries-old massive spacecraft adrift in the void and under attack from marauders looking to claim the ship for themselves—and armed with weapons that are evenly matched with Starfleet’s finest…

Kelvin timeline novels are “in play”

One area of Star Trek novels that has been very much lacking is in the Kelvin timeline. There were a handful of “Starfleet Academy” books years ago, but nothing since 2012, not counting the novelization of Into Darkness in 2013. After an inquiry about this from the audience, Schlesinger offered up some hope that there could be books set in between some of the films, saying:

As things are rolling out, Kelvin is very much in play. One thing we are looking at is – what the Kelvin timeline has established from the three films is a really vast area of the sandbox to play in; Obviously Kirk’s recovery post Into Darkness.

Van Citters agreed that “there is a lot of area to potentially cover” with regards to the Kelvin timeline and saying “it is something we do discuss.” However, he also noted that for the time being they were waiting to find out what was happening with the next movie before they could make any decisions about more Kelvin timeline novels.

The last original novel set in the Kelvin timeline came out six years ago

More STLV to come

We are just getting started with our coverage from Star Trek Las Vegas, which runs through Sunday. If you want to preview what is happening, check out our highlights from the schedule. Stay tuned for more daily coverage here at TrekMovie.com. Also be sure to follow along with our social media reporting from STLV on Twitter and Instagram.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/01/stlv18-fourth-star-trek-discovery-novel-and-more-books-announced-at-authors-panel/feed/18Season 2 Of ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Will Explore Spock’s Formation And Family, Say Producers And Casthttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/01/season-2-of-star-trek-discovery-will-explore-spocks-formation-and-family-say-producers-and-cast/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/01/season-2-of-star-trek-discovery-will-explore-spocks-formation-and-family-say-producers-and-cast/#commentsWed, 01 Aug 2018 21:15:36 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56780The Star Trek: Discovery panel at San Diego-Comic con twelve days ago confirmed that the iconic character of Spock would appear in the second season of the series. Spock was not seen, but he was discussed in the first look trailer released at Comic-Con, and it was subsequently revealed the an actor has already been cast as Trek’s most famous Vulcan. In a series of additional interviews, cast and crew of Discovery are talking more about the return of Spock and what it means for the series, along with offering some more tidbits of what is coming.

A different Spock

Speaking to SyFy, Discovery co-creator Alex Kurtzman outlined how the Spock we see in season two is not the Spock we know from the original Star Trek and beyond, saying:

Alex Kurtzman: The Spock that we meet is ten years [before Star Trek: The Original Series]. So, he is not formed in the same way that he is formed by the time you get to TOS. What we will learn is a lot of what made him the Spock that he was and what will make him the Spock he is, has to do with his family and his sister.

The executive producer and showrunner expands on this with TV Guide, adding:

Alex Kurtzman: There’s a lot of story about who Spock was before he becomes the Spock that is the yin-yang to Kirk. What I’m so excited about is that we have an opportunity to present a version of Spock that’s both totally consistent with the Spock everyone knows but very, very different. And it’s all gonna tie to how we sync up with canon.

Mary Wiseman: I think it is going to be so exciting for the fanbase. Spock is such a beloved character. It really captures the imagination of all people, not just hardcore Trek fans. I think it is going to be really fun, and really root the show. How we approach that is going to be, as ever, unique and with our very particular point of view.

And Dr. Culber actor Wilson Cruz added:

Wilson Cruz: I think he comes in with some mystery. I think we are going to learn some things about Spock, that we didn’t necessarily know before.

As for Anson Mount, who plays Captain Pike in season two, a tweet he sent out yesterday hinted that the actor cast to play Spock out-handsomes Mount himself.

You ain’t seen the guy playing Spock yet. Invest in a novelty ear company NOW (and save a pair for yourself and the missus). https://t.co/AsgqAtTCiS

The Spock family dynamic will play a “huge” part of season two

Apparently a big aspect of Spock’s inclusion on Discovery will deal with his relationship with Michael Burnham, who was adopted by Spock’s parents, Sarek and Amanda, at a young age. Speaking to TV Guide, Discovery executive producer Heather Kadin spoke more about how the show will focus on the Burnham/Spock relationship:

Heather Kadin: We’re gonna be exploring those family dynamics. We’re gonna see a lot between them. I think that like any brother or sister, there’s love. There’s deep wells of stuff. That’s what’s so great about exploring that relationship, is there’s a lot of tricky stuff that we get to dig into.

And speaking to Syfy, Kadin added more about how this will play out, saying:

Heather Kadin: Dig into it before we meet him, after we meet him. It is a brother and sister in a unique way, that we can only do on Star Trek.

Sonequa Martin-Green: I can tell you that it is a huge deal. We are going to be really digging into that relationship, and digging into a lot of family dynamics in season two. And not just in that family between Burnham and Spock and Sarek and Amanda, but also with the entire crew.

Shazad Latif, who plays Burnham’s human lover Ash Tyler who turned out to also be the Klingon Voq, also spoke to Syfy about how the show is dealing with the Spock/Michael relationship:

Shazad Latif: It is going to add a whole extra layer, especially for Burnham, this whole family exploration she is going to have to go through. That is going to affect her other relationships, because it is going to be something on her mind.

Alex Kurtzman: We are 10 years before [The Original Series]. But we are consistent with Pike and that journey. Obviously, characters that existed would probably still exist in our timeline. So, any number of people on that ship could show up this year.

He also talked more about how the second season into the canon timeline when speaking to SyFy Wire:

Alex Kurtzman: There are a lot of things that have been mentioned over time [in Star Trek], that are alluded to, but they are grey areas. There is a lot of detail missing. We are going to – like we did last season with the Klingon War – get to explore an area that hasn’t been explored.

Who else might be on board the USS Enterprise?

Culber’s return thanks to the power of shrooms

While the return of Wilson Cruz as Dr. Culber has been made very clear, even as far back as when the character was killed off in season one, it hasn’t been revealed yet how he will come back from the dead. In his TrekMovie SDCC interview Cruz did say it was something unique for Star Trek and season one did show that some part of Culber still existed in the Mycelial Network, which is a new element the show has used. And Speaking to TV Insider actor Anthony Rapp offered a strong indication that Culber’s return will be thanks to this new element, saying:

Anthony Rapp: You know about the real Paul Stamets, the real mycologist that my character is inspired by. He works with mushrooms and fungus and mycelium. His actual science is part of what leads the possibility of Culber coming back into our world.

And just earlier today, Cruz shared a photo of the text “Dr. Culber” on Instagram from Toronto, where the show is currently in production.

L’Rell goes glam

One last tidbit from the new interviews comes from actress Mary Chieffo, speaking to TV Insider about her wardrobe for season two:

Mary Chieffo: This is definitely a little different from my L’Rell aesthetic. Although I can tease that now that L’Rell is the chancellor, she does have to spruce herself up a little bit. So, you should be expecting some fun, glamorous chancellor looks, that I enjoy very much.

L’Rell in her first season armor, actress Mary Chieffo promises some new looks for season two

Star Trek: Discovery is available exclusively in the USA on CBS All Access. It airs in Canada on Space and streams on CraveTV. It is available on Netflix everywhere else.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/01/season-2-of-star-trek-discovery-will-explore-spocks-formation-and-family-say-producers-and-cast/feed/235Smithsonian-Designed Online Course ‘Star Trek: Inspiring Culture and Technology’ Launcheshttps://trekmovie.com/2018/08/01/smithsonian-designed-online-course-star-trek-inspiring-culture-and-technology-launches/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/01/smithsonian-designed-online-course-star-trek-inspiring-culture-and-technology-launches/#commentsWed, 01 Aug 2018 14:15:17 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56773Today a new adult learning platform launched, with its debut course being all about Star Trek. The new “Star Trek: Inspiring Culture and Technology” course celebrates the surprising cultural and technological impact of Star Trek, and was designed by the Smithsonian Institution in coordination with CBS Consumer Products.

The Star Trek course is part of the new Learning for a Small World, an interactive, community-based learning platform being launched by NetDragon, one of the largest Chinese gaming companies which has been expanding into education in recent years. The six-week Star Trek course will give users a multimedia learning experience that will sharpen their understanding of the Star Trek franchise and its lasting, global impact.

The online course is co-taught by Dr. Margaret Weitekamp, a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, and Scott Mantz, formerly of Access Hollywood. It features artifacts on display in Washington DC, behind-the-scenes looks at Smithsonian collections, and a range of experts from the Smithsonian Institution, academia, and the scientific community. “This online course offers a great way to experience the National Air and Space Museum’s approach to artifacts and history from the comfort of your own home,” said Weitekamp in a statement. “It’s a wonderful example of the Smithsonian Institution’s commitment to reaching beyond the walls of our museums to educate and inspire.”

The course will also feature Star Trek celebrities like Michael Dorn, Robert Picardo, Walter Koenig, and more, all of whom can be seen in the launch trailer below.

Here is the official course synopsis:

“Star Trek: Inspiring Culture and Technology” will explore the futuristic technology and social issues that remain top of mind today: runaway artificial intelligence, eugenics, discrimination and racial tensions, and even examinations of the nature of perception and what it means to be human. The course takes a deep look at how the show, and its fans, both reflected the times and foreshadowed scientific achievements we take for granted and the cultural challenges we face today.

NetDragon inspired by Star Trek

Net Dragon’s new LearningforaSmallWorld.com platform is designed to deliver learning experiences in a non-traditional manner. Courses will allow users to experience learning variety of ways, from video and audio to text and live interviews–learning on demand, any time, any place. Later this fall, Learning for a Small World will offer additional courses that will tackle difficult subjects such as fake news, genomics, and the phenomenon of eSports.

Also making an appearance in the Star Trek course will be Mr. Dejian Liu, founder and chairman of the board of NetDragon. He talks about the impact Star Trek had on him personally, inspiring him to have a successful career in technology. Liu’s love for Star Trek can be seen clearly by just looking at the design of Net Dragon headquarters building in Fuijan, China, which he had built in the shape of the Starship Enterprise.

NetDragon headquarters in China

Star Trek course available now

The six-week “Star Trek: Influencing Science and Culture” course is comprised of seven sections and is estimated to take three hours. Those who participate in the community and complete the course will receive an exclusive personalized digital course patch. The cost for the course is $19.95. There is also a special launch promotion for the first thousand fans to get the course for just $4.95 using the promo code “TOBOLDLYGO.”

Commander Airiam is one of the more intriguing characters in Star Trek: Discovery. The science officer played by Sarah Mitich appeared in 11 episodes of the first season and stands out on the bridge of the USS Discovery due to her unique appearance. It has never been fully established what Airiam’s nature is–secondary sources have described her as a “robot,” an augmented alien and an augmented human.

Sarah Mitich as Commander Airiam in the season one finale of Star Trek: Discovery

Airiam will return in the second season of Discovery and at WonderCon earlier this year, (now former) showrunners Aaron Harberts and Gretchen J. Berg said we would learn more about this character, with Berg noting “Airiam is part of the bridge crew and we have a lot of thoughts of who she was and what the augments are all about.”

And it is possible we are getting a preview of some of what is in store for her in the IDW comics. Tomorrow the fourth and final issue of the Star Trek: Discovery: Succession series arrives. In this series set in the Mirror Universe after the events of the first season, Airiam’s Mirror Universe counterpart has played a prominent role.

Cover for Star Trek: Discovery: Succession #3

While the comics are technically not canon, comics co-writer Kirsten Beyer is also part of the Discovery writers’ room and co-executive producer Ted Sullivan has said that they consider the books and comics to be canon, with the caveat that they may need to contradict them. So, elements of the books and comics may find themselves on the show, and in fact, it’s happened a few times already.

And in issue #4 of Succession we see Airiam reveal her true self briefly as she removes her helmet to replace it with a bit of new bling. What is underneath is a sort of mottled grey skin that doesn’t appear entirely human, but could be the result of injuries or some kind of genetic manipulation. The moment in the comic is reminiscent of another famous franchise when an iconic character was finally unmasked.

Airiam removes her helmet in Star Trek: Discovery: Succession #4

Earlier in the series, one of Airiam’s augmentations, or at least one for Mirror Airiam, was also revealed. Airiam’s helmet deployed a visor which completely sealed her in and protected her from at least toxic gases and possibly a vacuum. It’s possible the Prime version of Airiam also shares this augmentation.

Mirror Airiam shows off one of her augmentations in Star Trek: Discovery: Succession #1

Preview of Star Trek: Succession #4

Here are the cover and first five pages of the fourth and final issue of Star Trek: Discovery: Succession, due out on Wednesday, August 1st. Look for a full review after STLV.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/31/see-airiam-unmasked-in-star-trek-discovery-succession-4-preview/feed/9Star Trek Las Vegas 2018 Schedule And Events Highlightshttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/31/star-trek-las-vegas-2018-schedule-and-events-highlights/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/31/star-trek-las-vegas-2018-schedule-and-events-highlights/#commentsTue, 31 Jul 2018 21:38:02 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56747The annual Star Trek Las Vegas convention kicks off tomorrow, and the full schedule has now been released. The event, which we previewed last month, will have 138 total guests, including the recent addition of the cast of Star Trek: Discovery. We have put together some of the highlights too look forward to for the week.

Discovery cast and crew panels

Star Trek Las Vegas promises to have the biggest gathering of Discovery cast and crew than any other con. Actors and behind the scenes people are there for panels as well as autographs and photo ops, including some group photo ops. Here are some of the times for key Discovery panels, all of which are in the Main Ballroom (also known as the Leonard Nimoy Theater):

NOTE: Unfortunately James Frain and Neville Page had to cancel due to other commitments.

Deep Space Nine and What We Left Behind panels

Another major highlight of STLV this year is a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Much of the cast and and creatives behind the series will be there, and we are also expecting some news from the team behind the What We Left Behind documentary. The key DS9 panels are listed below, all of which are in the Main Ballroom.

Licensee and expanded universe panels

A number of Star Trek licensees and expanded universe creators are holding panels this year. They will be talking about their past work, latest announcements and some may be making some new announcements as well. Here is a list of some of the notable panels. All panels are in the DeForest Kelley Theater unless otherwise noted.

More panel/event highlights

With dozens of guests there are things for fans of every aspect of Star Trek to check out. Here are a few other panels we are particularly looking forward to. All panels are in the Main Ballroom unless otherwise noted.

TrekMovie Meetups

TrekMovie has a team on the ground in Las Vegas. We will be holding a Meet The TrekMovie STLV Team meetup on Thursday at 8 pm at the Rio iBar. You can meet some of your fellow readers and people behind TrekMovie.com on the web and social media. We will also be holding a trivia contest with giveways too! Any and all are welcome and you can RSVP if you like at the Facebook Event page.

If you are an early bird and in Las Vegas tonight, TrekMovie is a co-sponsor of the Landing Party, Tuesday at 9 pm at the Masquerade Bar in the Rio. There will also be a trivia contest and giveaway for this event.

Other meetups, events and parties

In the evenings, Creation has a number of events including lunches and dinners, but there are some more unofficial events you may want to check out as well. Here are a few highlights:

More info and tickets

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/31/star-trek-las-vegas-2018-schedule-and-events-highlights/feed/11Exclusive: Doug Jones Talks About Meeting Saru’s Family In ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 2https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/30/exclusive-doug-jones-talks-about-meeting-sarus-family-in-star-trek-discovery-season-2/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/30/exclusive-doug-jones-talks-about-meeting-sarus-family-in-star-trek-discovery-season-2/#commentsMon, 30 Jul 2018 20:35:37 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56723TrekMovie had a chance to speak to some of the cast and crew of Star Trek: Discovery at a press event at San Diego Comic-Con, including fan favorite Saru actor Doug Jones. (Audio of the interview is below the transcript)

Saru and Michael’s relationship in season two

When we talked at the Star Trek: Discovery premiere, you talked a lot about the brother/sister dynamic with Saru and Michael Burnham and we saw how that changed during the season. Now that she is a commander again and you are first officer and she is ambitious, is the rivalry back?

No, not like it was. You meet us with brother and sister rivalry, absolutely, in season one. She outranks me when you first meet us, then she commits mutiny and under-ranks me, drastically. I get a promotion to commander and first officer, and then she works her way back and by the end of season one she has her commander pips again, but I’m still first officer, so I out-position her, but we have the same rank.

So, now what? What you are going to find in season two is the brother/sister relationships, the tender parts of it. That was my favorite part of season one. We had our bickerings and at-each-other’s throats moments, but we always had a make-up scene, where we had a moment of understanding, a moment of reckoning. And those were always my favorite scenes. We do have shared history together. We have Captain Georgiou as our mom figure, that we really came up under.

So, we are relying more on that this year. We both have families that we came from. She is foster sister to Spock. I have my own family back on my home planet, which we are going to meet in season two. I’m very excited about visiting my home planet. This season we are back to exploring and back to what Star Trek started as.

A tender moment from season one with Saru and Burnham

Saru goes home in season two, and Short Treks

Is your home planet called “Kelpia?”

It is not. The name of my home planet has not been put out there yet, I cannot be the first one to say it.

Have you done that episode yet?

We are about to start it, when we get back from [Comic-Con]. It is a good, thick script for me, oh my gosh! It’s a lot of responsibility.

And we get to meet your family

We meet some family. And the questions will be answered as to why am I the only Kelpien who ever joined Starfleet and how did that happen. That is going to be addressed. Between that regular episode and the [Star Trek: Short Treks] mini-episode I am going to be doing as well, a Saru mini-episode.

A lighter moment from first episode of second season of Star Trek: Discovery

Saru evolves in season two

A big thing about your physicality in the first season, was the threat ganglia. Star Trek has a history with the interesting characters like Saru, Data, Odo, have these interesting abilities, and often as the series progresses, we learn about new abilities they have. So, are there other things or abilities about Kelpiens we will learn and how do you feel about them saying “Oh, now you can do this”?

[Laughs] I am on the ride with the fans. The audience and I are learning about Saru and Kelpiens at the same time, basically as I get one script. I don’t want to know too far ahead. The writers asked me last year “How far ahead do you want to know?” And I was “Let me handle one episode at a time.”

So, I am on an evolution. Every character is on an evolutionary track of some sort. My evolution is evidenced in season two, especially. Also, not only are we going to go to my home planet and meet some family, but I am also a prey species. That means there is a predator out there. Who is that? How do they have a thumb on us. All of that gets addressed and answered too. And my evolution might be part of that as well.

We will learn more about Saru and Kelpiens in season two

Acting with (almost) his own face in Space Command

Let’s talk quickly about Space Command [which was previewing its first episode at SDCC 2018]. What can you tell us about your character and how do you feel about getting to act – almost – without any makeup?

Almost! Dorn Neven is android in Space Command. I loved his character so much. He is much like other characters I have played, in that he is tall and lanky, but very poised and very mannered. He is an android that served as a servant for rich people in this future setting, but he ended up getting a heart and soul of his own, getting more human characteristics and asking questions he wasn’t supposed to ask. So, they end up demoting him and putting him in the salt mines, and that is how you meet him in the beginning of Space Command.

I had a helmet piece and they wiped away my eyebrows and gave me a very pasty, pale sort of not-quite-human look. But, it was my own face and I was tickled pink about that. I have done a lot with my own face over the years, but in the sci-fi world it is usually with rubber.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/30/exclusive-doug-jones-talks-about-meeting-sarus-family-in-star-trek-discovery-season-2/feed/29Eaglemoss To Debut Limited Edition ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ USS Glenn At STLVhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/30/eaglemoss-to-debut-limited-edition-star-trek-discovery-uss-glenn-at-stlv/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/30/eaglemoss-to-debut-limited-edition-star-trek-discovery-uss-glenn-at-stlv/#commentsMon, 30 Jul 2018 19:18:09 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56730Collectibles maker Eaglemoss is headed to the Star Trek Las Vegas con, which kicks off Wednesday, where they will be offering up products for fans at special prices as well as debuting a new limited edition ship model from Star Trek: Discovery.

Press release from Eaglemoss

EAGLEMOSS BEAMS INTO STAR TREK LAS VEGAS WITH NEW SHIPS, NEW BUSTS AND A LIMITED EDITION DEBUT!

Latest from All the Collections including Star Trek Starships, Discovery Starships, XL Editions and the U.S.S. Glenn Variant

Celebrating the tremendous success of Season 1 of Star Trek: Discovery and gearing up for the launch of Season 2, Eaglemoss will unveil and offer for sale for the first time anywhere the limited edition U.S.S. Glenn NCC-1030 variant from the Star Trek: Discovery Official Starships Collection. The sister ship to the Crossfield-class U.S.S. Discovery NCC-1031, the Glenn was destroyed by Captain Lorca early in the series after a disastrous test of the experimental spore drive.

Like all ships in the collection, this larger scale model is made of die-cast metal and ABS materials, then hand painted with reference to the actual CG models used in production. Strictly limited to only 500 ships worldwide, each comes with a collector’s magazine, display stand and numbered certificate of authenticity.

Two additional and soon-to-be released ships from the collection will also be on display – the U.S.S. Europa NCC-1648 and one of the few Vulcan designs seen in the series so far, the Vulcan Cruiser.

Eaglemoss’ popular line of Star Trek Starships XL Editions continues to grow and fans at the event will be among the first to get their hands on the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-A and the U.S.S. Defiant NX- 74205, Starfleet’s first true warship. On display, but not yet available for purchase, will be the next pair of XL Editions due to be released in Q4 of 2018 – the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-B, as seen in Star Trek: Generations, and the Miranda-class U.S.S. Reliant.

Visitors will also get a first look at two new Bonus ships from the original Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection – Rick Sternbach’s U.S.S. Voyager Concept (the original, but unused design of the ship) and the Klingon Bird-of-Prey (Landing Position).

Rounding out Eaglemoss’ Star Trek presence in Las Vegas will be the all-new line of Official Star Trek Collector’s Busts. This eagerly anticipated collection features the iconic captains of Starfleet and other memorable characters from over 50 years of Star Trek TV and movie history, capturing them in impressive detail with highly accurate likenesses, uniforms and props. These hand-painted polyresin busts are 4.5 to 6” tall, come complete with a fact-filled magazine, and form an essential addition to any Star Trek collection. On display in Las Vegas will be four fan favorites – Captain James T. Kirk, Science Officer Spock, Lt. Commander Worf and Lt. Commander Data.

If you’re a serious collector, Eaglemoss is offering extra incentive to sign up for one or more of their popular Star Trek subscription programs, regardless of whether or not you’re at the show. Fans who subscribe online to the Star Trek: Discovery Official Starships Collection during the convention will receive their first ship, the U.S.S. Shenzhou, plus a commemorative lapel pin for only $9.95 with free shipping. If you sign up for the original Star Trek Official Starships Collection, you’ll receive three fan favorite starships, including the beloved U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D, for $9.95 with free shipping.

Throughout the convention, any fan who stops by the Eaglemoss booth can also instantly enter to win one of 500 incredible prizes in the annual “Summer of Trek” Sweepstakes – including the Grand Prize of an ultimate voyage for two aboard Star Trek: The Cruise III.

The Eaglemoss booth will be open beginning Preview Night, Tuesday, July 31 st , through Sunday, August 5 th, at the Rio Suites Hotel.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/30/eaglemoss-to-debut-limited-edition-star-trek-discovery-uss-glenn-at-stlv/feed/31Simon Pegg Says ‘Star Trek 4’ Director S.J. Clarkson Is “Reverent” – Estimates Tarantino Trek 6 Years Awayhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/29/simon-pegg-says-star-trek-4-director-s-j-clarkson-is-reverent-estimates-tarantino-trek-6-years-away/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/29/simon-pegg-says-star-trek-4-director-s-j-clarkson-is-reverent-estimates-tarantino-trek-6-years-away/#commentsMon, 30 Jul 2018 02:39:48 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56719Mission: Impossible – Fallout is now in theaters and looks to be a hit, so Simon Pegg’s publicity tour should now be over, but we have a couple more last tidbits for the week about his meeting with Star Trek 4 director S.J. Clarkson and his thoughts on other Star Trek film in development, originally pitched by Quentin Tarantino.

S.J. Clarkson is reverent, not slavish to Star Trek

Speaking to the Edmonton Journal, Pegg offered some more details on his recent lunch meeting with Star Trek 4 director S.J. Clarkson, saying:

I’ve met with S.J. and she’s fizzing with ideas and she has the right attitude…She’s reverent, but she’s not slavish. In terms of the story, I have a vague knowledge, but it’s nothing I can talk about.

Earlier during his Mission press tour, Pegg has also said of this meeting that Clarkson is “a real ball of ideas and so into it.” He has also said the film is currently “in prep” and estimates production will start in early 2019.

And speaking to Fanaticos del Cine, the official website of Paramount’s Peruvian distribution United International Pictures Peru, Pegg tried to clear up some confusion between the status of the Star Trek 4 project and the Quentin Tarantino Star Trek project.

There is a script for Star Trek 4, yes…I’m not sure where this confusion has come from…The truth is, there is a film being developed for the fourth Star Trek, written by [J.D.] Payne and [Patrick] McKay, directed by S.J. Clarkson. And the one that Quentin Tarantino spoke about, it might happen further down the line.

Sofia Boutella as Jaylah and Simon Pegg as Scotty in Star Trek Beyond

Tarantino Trek could be six years away

With regards to the Tarantino project, Pegg told the Edmonton Journal he expects the Kelvin timeline cast to be part the concept, saying:

He came in to Bad Robot and pitched it and it’s been put in the bank. I think he had us in mind when he came up with the idea; he likes the new cast.

He also said told Fanaticos del Cine that he believes the Tarantino Trek film involves the same cast as Star Trek 4, saying:

As far as I know, it is the same cast.

However, he offered a note of caution to the Edmonton Journal, saying:

“But he’s going to be so busy with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood that I can’t see him doing it for five or six years, by which time we might be too old anyway.”

Quentin Tarantino seen with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio

Star Trek 4 scribes tapped for Lord of the Rings series at Amazon

In related news, at the Television Critics Association event over the weekend, Amazon Studios announced via Entertainment Weekly that after a “lengthy search” they picked Star Trek 4 screenwriters JD Payne and Patrick McKay to be the showrunners for their planned Lord of the Rings TV series.

“The rich world that J.R.R. Tolkien created is filled with majesty and heart, wisdom and complexity,” the writing duo said in a statement. “We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Amazon to bring it to life anew. We feel like Frodo, setting out from the Shire, with a great responsibility in our care — it is the beginning of the adventure of a lifetime.”

Amazon has a multi-season commitment for the project, set prior to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. EW estimates the series to be budgeted for $500 million, which would make it the most expensive freshman TV project of all time.

JD Payne and Patrick McKay

Keep up with all news on both Star Trek 4 and the Tarantino Trek project here.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/29/simon-pegg-says-star-trek-4-director-s-j-clarkson-is-reverent-estimates-tarantino-trek-6-years-away/feed/104Exclusive: Shazad Latif Talks Real Javid Iqbal, Season 2, And Secrets Of ‘Star Trek: Discovery’https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/29/exclusive-shazad-latif-talks-real-javid-iqbal-season-2-and-secrets-of-star-trek-discovery/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/29/exclusive-shazad-latif-talks-real-javid-iqbal-season-2-and-secrets-of-star-trek-discovery/#commentsSun, 29 Jul 2018 14:45:56 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56715TrekMovie had a chance to speak to some of the cast and crew of Star Trek: Discovery at a press event at San Diego Comic-Con, including actor Shazad Latif. Latif was part of one of the big twists in the first season of the series when his character, Lt. Ash Tyler, was ultimately revealed to be the transformed Klingon agent Voq. We talked about keeping the Voq secret, the parody Twitter account it inspired, and what he is up to in season two. (Video of the interview is below the transcript)

Keeping the Voq = Tyler secret with “Javid Iqbal”

[NOTE: In January I told Shazad privately that I created the parody account @RealJavidIqbal on Twitter–more details on this below the interview.]

So, what did you think of “real Javid”? Now, we can reveal it was me all along.

Oh yeah. [laughs] You are technically my father. It is strange to be looking at you.

How did it feel for you to keep the secret (that Voq was Tyler)?

It was the weirdest thing I have ever done. Usually, you go to work and film something and then it goes on TV. This was a whole extra saga going on in my real life that I was unaware of, had never experienced before – social media – it was a very strange thing to be part of. And to use my dead father’s name, he was coming back alive in a sense. The whole thing was weird, but very enjoyable to see play out, actually.

How much do you know about where things are going? With the first season, when you were hired, how much did you know about your arc? And for the second season, is it the same thing?

In the first season I knew what was happening. I knew where it was going to end up. We didn’t know the exact details of each episode because that changes as we go. But, I knew I was a Klingon. I knew the big reveal. This season, we get a certain amount of info. Some people can know what they want, some people can know more, if they want. It’s up to us, in a way. But, we know the basics. We know enough.

The Voq=Tyler secret was sussed out by fans

Who is Shazad in season two?

So, for the second season, what should we call you? Voq? Tyler? Tyvoq? Voqler?

It is up to each audience member to make their mind up. That is the beauty of it. It’s vague. There is an ambiguity about it, which I love playing as well. He is part of Starfleet, he is part Klingon. It is unclear.

When you say he is part of Starfleet, the last we saw him, we left him on the Klingon homeworld with L’Rell. Is that kind of your zone for the second season?

For a while. But, he is going to have to weave in and out. It is going to play out in an interesting way. Yeah, yeah. He has got to sort some stuff out with the Klingons. He wants to see Burnham again. He wants to see her.

What did you guys call it, the “love rhombus”? [with Voq, L’Rell, Tyler and Burnham]

Whatever shape, there are so many shapes. It’s a square, or a parallelogram.

So, there are still feelings with all parties, with L’Rell, with Burnham?

I would say so. If there are two people, there are two feelings, because it is a four-way thing. Definitely.

Tyler and Burnham in season one

Speaking Klingon

Last season there was a lot of Klingon dialog, that went over with varying levels with people. Would you say you are doing more in English or Klingon this year?

I’m not sure.

Well, now that you are on Klingon.

I’m not sure. Sometimes when we read it, there are subtitles. But, I always like the subtitles, because it adds an extra layer. It is like watching a foreign language movie. It keeps you in a different world.

Latif as Voq, speaking Klingon in season one

Watch the interview

Who was @realJavidIqbal?

One of the ways the Voq=Tyler secret was kept under wraps was to credit the actor for Voq, actually played by Latif, as “Javid Iqbal.” Latif chose the pseudonym himself and used his late father’s name for it, but nobody else knew that’s where it had come from. To add credibility to the idea that Voq was played by a real actor, an IMDb page was created for Javid Iqbal (which has since been removed). As the Voq=Tyler clues added up and it became clearer that the fan theory about them being one person was the real deal, I decided to have some fun and created the Twitter parody account @realJavidIqbal as a typical celebrity actor account, from the point of view of someone who happened to have a unique look for someone in Hollywood.

For a few months, @realJavidIqbal would update his 1542 Twitter followers on his life as a “real actor” and talk about his good friend Shazad Latif. Javid would show up around the world, visiting with various actors and members of the Discovery staff and generally live the life of a celebrity.

As things went along, cast and crew from the show got in on the joke and would follow and interact with “Real Javid,” including Shazad Latif himself. Once the big reveal was made I told Latif that in honor of his father I would retire the account. He was very gracious about it, and said he thought it was a fun thing.

Following his retirement, the official Star Trek writers’ room account also gave their thanks to the “real actor” for all his work.

You can see the cast and producers joke about “real Javid” on Twitter in one of their SDCC group interviews below.

More from SDCC

We are almost done with our SDCC coverage. There is one more exclusive Discovery interview coming up from the Discovery press event. You may also want to check out our full panel report and the 8 things we learned from the press conference.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/29/exclusive-shazad-latif-talks-real-javid-iqbal-season-2-and-secrets-of-star-trek-discovery/feed/67Rebecca Romijn On Playing Number One And Talking Spock In ‘Star Trek: Discovery’https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/27/rebecca-romijn-on-playing-number-one-and-talking-spock-in-star-trek-discovery/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/27/rebecca-romijn-on-playing-number-one-and-talking-spock-in-star-trek-discovery/#commentsSat, 28 Jul 2018 02:58:11 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56709Last week’s big Star Trek: Discoverypanel at San Diego Comic-Con included the announcement that actress Rebecca Romijn will be appearing in the second season of the series, playing the role of Number One on the USS Enterprise, originally played by Majel Barrett Roddenberry in the first Star Trek pilot “The Cage.” The actress was not on the Discovery panel, but has now spoken about playing Number One in some recent interviews.

Gorgeous sets, and talking Spock with Pike

Speaking to ET at a TCA event on Thursday, Romijn spoke about her background with Star Trek and what it was like for her landing the role:

“I was a Trekkie as a kid with the original series. After I was filled in with all the details — after I said ‘yes’ — oh man, I was floored. It was amazing.”

The actress also gave her impression of the first time wearing her costume and walking on the sets:

“When they fit me for that uniform, I was teary-eyed. Because [the show] was shot in the ‘60s, we’ve gone with a little bit of a ‘60s flair, which is great. And being there on set, there’s a ‘60s vibe on set. The production is amazing. Just walking through the stages up there, it’s gorgeous — really, really beautiful sets.”

While she did confirm that she has already shot scenes for the show, she would not confirm how many episodes she appears in for the second season. She did confirm she had scenes with Anson Mount’s Captain Pike and that Spock was brought up:

“I’m working with Anson Mount, who plays an amazing Captain Pike, and we have discussed Mr. Spock. Mr. Spock has been a topic of conversation.”

Honored and awed to be in TOS Gold

While Romijn didn’t attend the Discovery panel or press event at SDCC, she was actually at Comic-Con on the day she was announced, promoting the DC animation film The Death of Superman. While doing press for that, she got a few questions about Discovery.

In a SDCC round table interview recorded by GeekRock TV shortly after the Discovery announcement, Romijn talked about what it was like getting on the radar of Trekkies on social media:

I just got introduced to Trek Twitter, it’s a world I had not known about. I just turned on my phone five minutes ago and I was like “Woah!” it’s wild. It’s a real honor.

She also talked enthusiastically about the experience of wearing the classic gold uniform:

I get to wear the original gold. My character is from The Original Series. So, I play Number One, who is second in command to Captain Pike. So, when we get on board the ship Discovery, which is the ship before the Enterprise, it takes place 10 years before The Original Series, we show up in the original gold… It was awesome! It was so awesome!

You can see the sleeves of that gold uniform in the Instagram post Romijn sent out after the announcement last Friday.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/27/rebecca-romijn-on-playing-number-one-and-talking-spock-in-star-trek-discovery/feed/33Marina Sirtis To Guest Star In ‘The Orville’ In Episode Directed By Star Trek: TNG’s Jonathan Frakeshttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/27/marina-sirtis-to-guest-star-in-the-orville-in-episode-directed-by-star-trek-tngs-jonathan-frakes/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/27/marina-sirtis-to-guest-star-in-the-orville-in-episode-directed-by-star-trek-tngs-jonathan-frakes/#commentsSat, 28 Jul 2018 00:05:23 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56695Fox’s The Orville has yet another connection to the show that inspired it, Star Trek: The Next Generation — this time in the form of an actor crossing over. And she isn’t the only Trek veteran in the Planetary Union on the second season of Seth MacFarlane’s sci-fi dramedy.

Marina Sirtis will guest star on The Orville

In our Orville SDCC report yesterday we noted that Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Jonathan Frakes has been directing the latest episode of season two of The Orville. (He also directed one in the first season.) Yesterday his TNG co-star Marina Sirtis tweeted a picture of herself on set with Frakes and The Orville creator Seth MacFarlane. Frakes followed this up with the message “Cat’s out of the bag now.”

This strongly hinted that Sirtis wasn’t just there for a visit, something Sirtis herself seemed to back up later on Twitter in answer to a fan’s question. TrekMovie has now independently confirmed that Sirtis indeed has a guest role for the episode being shot by Frakes. We have no details yet regarding what her role will be.

This isn’t the first time Frakes and Sirtis have sparked speculation on social media. In May, Sirtis joined Frakes in Toronto on the set of Star Trek: Discovery when he was directing the second episode of season two, and they shared the moment on Twitter (see below). While there has been speculation that Sirtis’ visit to the Discovery set was also for some kind of role, this has yet to be confirmed.

John Billingsley joins growing list of Trek vets on season 2 of The Orville

It was reported earlier this week by IMDB News that Star Trek: Enterprise star John Billingsley had a guest role in the first episode of The Orville’s second season, filmed earlier this year. TrekMovie has also independently verified it.

John Billingsley also to guest star in the second season of The Orville

Sirtis and Billingsley join two other previously revealed Trek vets who are doing guest spots in the second season of The Orville. Earlier this week, Star Trek: Voyager’s Tim Russ revealed he had just wrapped up work on the show.

I just finished work on "Orville", great cast, crew, and producers, Seth was great!

And Russ’s Voyager co-star Robert Picardo did a guest spot in March, which was tweeted by executive producer/director John Cassar, pictured below with Picardo and MacFarlane. This is actually Picardo’s second time on the series, as he is reprising his role as the Xelayan father of Halston Sage’s Alara Kitan.

The second season of The Orville also has more Trek vets behind the camera. Acclaimed Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Discovery writer Joe Menosky has joined the series as an executive producer and member of the writers’ room. At San Diego Comic-Con, former Star Trek: Enterprise writer/executive producer and current The Orville writer/executive producer Brannon Braga told TrekMovie that he wanted Menosky for the first season, but he wasn’t available as he’d already signed on to Discovery.

Brannon Braga with Seth MacFarlane at San Diego Comic-Con 2018

And Star Trek: Voyager star Robert Duncan McNeill directed an episode of The Orville in April, his second for the series. Other Star Trek crossovers include director of photography Marvin Rush and writer/executive producer David A. Goodman, who joined in the first season.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/27/marina-sirtis-to-guest-star-in-the-orville-in-episode-directed-by-star-trek-tngs-jonathan-frakes/feed/100Simon Pegg Estimates ‘Star Trek 4’ Will Start Production In Early 2019https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/27/simon-pegg-estimates-star-trek-4-to-start-production-in-early-2019/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/27/simon-pegg-estimates-star-trek-4-to-start-production-in-early-2019/#commentsFri, 27 Jul 2018 22:21:50 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56701There is a bit more from Simon Pegg while on his promotional tour for Mission: Impossible – Fallout, which opened today. This time the Star Trek actor is giving an estimate on production for the next movie.

S.J. Clarkson brimming with ideas for Star Trek 4

Appearing on Larry King Now, Pegg talked confirmed he will be in the next Star Trek movie, and talked again about meeting with Star Trek 4 director S.J. Clarkson, saying:

Yeah [I’m in the next Star Trek], as long as they want what they call the “Kelvin cast,” the sort of rebooted version of the Shatner era, and I am Scotty, as far as I know. I met the new director, S.J. Clarkson, who is the first female director of a Star Trek film, which is exciting, and she is just brimming with ideas and enthusiasm. I can’t wait to work with her.

When asked about production, Pegg gave his best estimate about when Star Trek 4 would start shooting, saying:

As far I know, we are sort of in soft prep at the moment. I would imagine [starting production] next year at some point, hopefully early next year.

This is a bit more of a detailed estimate on progress for the film than Pegg gave earlier this week. Paramount has yet to set a release date for Star Trek 4, so there are still likely some issues to be worked out, although at least one draft of the script has been reportedly completed and financing partner Skydance has also been reported to be on board.

A film going into production in 2019 would likely indicate a 2020 release, or a four-year gap since Star Trek Beyond, which would be the same gap between 2009’s Star Trek film and 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness. All three of the Kelvin-era Star Trek films have been released in the summer and Paramount has yet to announce a live-action tentpole film for the summer of 2020, so it seems like a natural spot for the next Trek movie.

Simon Pegg with the cast and director Justin Lin at UK premiere of Star Trek Beyond on July 12, 2016 in London, England.

Watch Pegg talk Star Trek 4

Keep up with all news on both Star Trek 4 and the Tarantino Trek project here.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/27/simon-pegg-estimates-star-trek-4-to-start-production-in-early-2019/feed/45Michael Dorn Says There Is Still Hope For His ‘Worf Chronicles’ Star Trek TV Showhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/27/michael-dorn-says-there-is-still-hope-for-his-worf-chronicles-star-trek-tv-show/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/27/michael-dorn-says-there-is-still-hope-for-his-worf-chronicles-star-trek-tv-show/#commentsFri, 27 Jul 2018 19:54:32 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56692Six years ago TrekMovie first broke the news that Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine actor Michael Dorn hoped to pitch a new Star Trek series, centered around his character Worf. Since then he has periodically provided updates on the pitch which he wrote, and came to be named Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Worf Chronicles, but the project and #WeWantWorf fan campaign never seemed to get traction. CBS subsequently announced Star Trek: Discovery and that seemed to be that for a Worf TV show, but apparently recent developments have Dorn still optimistic.

Michael Dorn at Star Trek Las Vegas 2017

Dorn wants to talk to CBS about Worf TV show which will explore the Klingons

“I think this Worf thing would be perfect — I mean, really perfect,” he says. “It’s just a matter of getting the phone number of the right guy or getting the email of the right person that can actually get you in there. It’s a little early in the game right now, but I still think there’s hope for it.”

The actor also offered some more details on his vision for exploring the Klingons

“I’ve always liked the Klingons. I’ve always thought that they were the most interesting aliens outside of the Vulcans and all that,” Dorn says. “There’s a certain Shakespearian bent with the Klingons. They’re very nationalistic — there’s coups, there’s assassinations, there’s takeovers, there’s all these kind of things. Interestingly enough, they talk kind of Shakespearian.”

“The Next Generation” scratched the surface on Klingons and “Deep Space 9” delved deeper, he said, but one could go even farther in exploring this warrior race.”

Much of the development of the Klingons in Star Trek took place on both TNG and DS9, and it was primarily done through Worf’s perspective as he navigated the complex politics and culture of the iconic warrior race. The end of Deep Space Nine saw Worf become the Federation Ambassador to the Klingon Empire, although he found time to rejoin his crew mates on the Enterprise-E periodically on the big screen.

Michael Dorn as Worf in Star Trek: The Next Generation

There have been persistent rumors that CBS is developing a series centered around Sir Patrick Stewart’s Jean-Luc Picard, which would presumably take place in the same era as Dorn’s Worf Chronicles. So, it is not entirely out of the realm of possibility for a potential mini-series or even for Dorn to show up on a Picard mini-series. Michael Dorn has appeared in more Star Trek episodes than any other actor, and at age 65, he has plenty of time to add some more to his resume, if only he can get CBS on the phone.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/27/michael-dorn-says-there-is-still-hope-for-his-worf-chronicles-star-trek-tv-show/feed/101The Shuttle Pod Crew Break Down All The Star Trek News From Comic-Con 2018https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/27/the-shuttle-pod-crew-breakdown-all-the-star-trek-news-from-comic-con-2018/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/27/the-shuttle-pod-crew-breakdown-all-the-star-trek-news-from-comic-con-2018/#commentsFri, 27 Jul 2018 15:00:14 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56690On this episode of the Shuttle Pod, Brian and Matt are joined by TrekMovie founder Anthony Pascale for a look at San Diego Comic-Con 2018. Anthony was one of the “boots on the ground” in San Diego, and has gone to Comic-Con many times in years past, so we get his thoughts on what Comic-Con of today looks like compared to previous years.

The Star Trek: Discovery SDCC 2018 panel

Of course we discuss the big Star Trek: Discovery news from the panel and press conference, as well as our impressions of the First Look trailer CBS released during the con. We also touch on the announcement of Short Treks, the four mini-episodes that will be released in the fall to help tide us over until Season 2 starts in the new year. Lastly, we talk about our adopted show, The Orville, which also had a panel, press conference, and trailer released at Comic-Con for their second season.

Shuttle Pod 55: Comic-Con 2018 Debrief

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]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/27/the-shuttle-pod-crew-breakdown-all-the-star-trek-news-from-comic-con-2018/feed/6‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season Two First Look Trailer Analysishttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/26/star-trek-discovery-season-two-first-look-trailer-analysis/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/26/star-trek-discovery-season-two-first-look-trailer-analysis/#commentsFri, 27 Jul 2018 03:54:39 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56668Last week at Comic-Con CBS debuted a “First Look” trailer for Star Trek: Discovery season two. There’s a lot to unpack: Captain Pike takes command of the USS Discovery, a galactic mystery is brought to light, Spock is talked about, an engineer cracks wise, a Saurian sneezes, and more! We’ve grouped the screenshots by theme, while it’s not 100% certain, it’s pretty clear some of the bits we see throughout the trailer belong together.

A message hidden in the stars

The story theme for season 2 has been described as “the struggle between facts and feelings and faith,” and we see something of that in the first few minutes of the trailer. In the middle of explosions and panic Burnham has a moment, she looks up and sees a strange being.

Panic

Strange being in the haze

“The secret, made of space and time, visible only to those open to receive it.”

When we last left the USS Discovery…

Who could forget the cliffhanger ending from season one? Captain Pike beams aboard the USS Discovery and takes command. He cites Starfleet Regulation 19, Section C — a directive for taking emergency command of a starship when an imminent threat is detected.

Last time on Star Trek: Discovery…

Pike and his team (Lt. Nhan and Lt. Connolly) beam onboard. Check out the new transporter effect.

Saru awkwardly shakes hands

Unique shot from the neck of the Discovery looking at the Enterprise

Pike describes the mysterious seven red bursts, which are spread out over 30,000 light years.

Pike shows a red burst on screen to the crew

Is it a greeting? A declaration of malice? Let’s find out.

Special equipment

The question remains as to why Pike needed to take command of the USS Discovery. It could simply be that the Enterprise was out of commission, or it could be that there is special technology available on the Discovery that suits his mission. In the trailer we see a group of spherical devices deployed, which may be equipment unique to the Discovery.

The Discovery deploys spherical devices

The devices can be seen working above the crew as they walk and talk

Saru, Lt. Connolly (blueshirt), Lt. Nhan (redshirt), Burnham, and Pike walk through the Discovery corridors. Note how they look up at the spherical devices.

Let’s talk Spock

We get a look at Spock’s quarters. Check out the TOS-like circular grid used as a room separator. Spock’s quarters also have red walls as a nod to the red curtains we saw in TOS. Also in his quarters are a 3D chess set, a Vulcan lyre, and Vulcan ceremonial chimes.

Spock’s quarters as seen in TOS “Amok Time”

————

“We have someone in common…”

Burnham in Spock’s quarters.

Burnham touches Spock’s blue science uniform

Wide shot of quarters, note the Vulcan chimes on the left and the lyre on the right.

Burnham accesses Spock’s logs. Note the Vulcan script on other parts of the computer terminal.

Burnham realizes Spock has been tracking the seven red bursts. Note the 3D chess set next to the computer console.

“Spock is linked to these signals, and he needs help.”

The Discovery’s rocky encounter

The Discovery leaves the Enterprise behind, from the worker bees we see around the Enterprise, it seems as if it was damaged. Possibly from trying to navigate the rocky area of space we see in the trailer.

The Enterprise under repair by a worker bee next to the Discovery.

The Discovery prepares to warp away from the Enterprise. Note the workerbee fixing up the Enterprise

The Discovery warps into a huge asteroid field like phenomena

A giant jagged piece tears up the hull

An energy wave beats against the Discovery

Flight of the asteroid bees

Likely another kind of special scientific equipment the Discovery was carrying, the ship launches special single person craft to navigate the rocky area of space.

Burnham’s ship launches

Burnham is both scared and thrilled

A view of the ship’s HUD

The cluster of small ships whizz around the rocks with the Discovery in the distance.

A good look at the small ship.

Pike’s ship is compromised.

“Discovery has us, right ladies?”

“Oh yeah absolutely…”

On a baren surface

From the looks of things, this nasty place is where we’ll encounter the USS Hiawatha, or what’s left of it. We also get our first meeting with Tig Notaro’s character Chief Engineer Reno of the USS Hiawatha.

Pike, Burnham, and Nhan phasers drawn

Pike, Burnham, and Nhan face a large structure

Pike steps through a room seal, phaser first.

Burnham: “We’re on a collision course with a pulsar.”

Reno: “Oh what a relief, I thought we all were going to die.”

Pike and drones walk through an emergency containment tunnel

Lt. Nhan is blown forward by an explosion

Burnham races through the collapsing tunnel

Burnham is blown backwards as things explode. Note the older transporter design, perhaps part of the USS Hiawatha?

Stamets and Tilly use the power of math

Tilly and Stamets cook up some new “weird science” in the shuttle bay. It looks like a device for a fragment of the rock found in the mysterious region of space.

“This the power of math – people!”

Stamets, Tilly, and other Discovery crew members look on at the device.

More Discovery moments

Here are few other moment from the trailer. Note that Captain Pike changes uniforms into the standard Discovery version after he takes command.

“Hit it”

“Wherever our mission takes us, we’ll try to have a little fun along the way, and ruffle a few feathers.”

“I look forward to it.”

Saru looks at the viewscreen, threat ganglia at full attention.

That sneeze…

Linus touches his throat, he has that virus that’s been going around.

Poor Lt. Connolly looks quite resigned to having alien snot on his face.

A few observations

The fate of the USS Hiawatha (NCC-815)

It looks like the Hiawatha may be wrecked in the rocky region of space.

This press shot from CBS shows us a crate from the USS Hiawatha (far left) and lots of rubble.

Zoom and rotation of the crate label.

Lieutenant Nhan

The redshirted officer Pike brings with him to the USS Discovery is named Lt. Nhan, played by actress Rachael Ancheril. Nhan appears to need a small breathing apparatus and has alien makeup similar to the Barzan species from TNG: “The Price.” Of course there are certainly other alien species out there that might need different mixtures of gasses, so she may not be a Barzan at all. We’ll hopefully find out more in the new year when Discovery comes back.

Lt. Nhan

Barzan minister Bhavani

More to Season 2

This “First Look” trailer appears to be primarily be from the first two episodes of Season 2. There’s quite a bit more to the season that we have yet to see. We know Discovery will continue to follow the Klingon politics on Qo’noS with Chancellor L’Rell and Voq/Tyler. We also know Dr. Hugh Culber will return. Michelle Yeoh is also returning as former Emperor Georgiou, in a Section 31 plotline.

Alan Van Sprang as Leland, head of Section 31

While Rebecca Romijn was announced at Comic-Con to be playing the Enterprise’s Number One, she was also a no show in the trailer. And lastly, but certainly not least, we didn’t see Spock, but of course that’s purposeful, Spock is not onboard the Enterprise right now, however it’s all but certain we’ll catch up to him at some point later in the season.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/26/star-trek-discovery-season-two-first-look-trailer-analysis/feed/139SDCC18: ‘The Orville’ Producers And Cast Promise Bolder, More Confident Sci-Fi In Season 2https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/26/sdcc18-the-orville-panel-promises-bolder-more-confident-sci-fi-in-season-2/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/26/sdcc18-the-orville-panel-promises-bolder-more-confident-sci-fi-in-season-2/#commentsThu, 26 Jul 2018 23:31:51 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56617In addition to all the Star Trek related events and product debuts happening at San Diego Comic-Con, there was also a panel for TrekMovie’s adopted show The Orville, as well as a press event which TrekMovie attended. We already reported on the season two trailer released on the same day, but now have highlights from the panel and the press event to get a sense of where the show is going for the second season.

The Orville cast at San Diego Comic-Con press event

A bolder Orville for season 2, confident in its tonal balance

During the panel, The Orville creator Seth MacFarlane started off talking about how the first season was a “tonal experiment” where they and the audience found the right balance. MacFarlane said The Orville was allowed to “really be a sci-fi show,” with the comedy as “a garnish.” With regards to the second season he said:

MacFarlane: I think what you are going to see in season two is a show that is even more comfortable in its footing as far as existing in that Goldilocks zone. Every episode feels like a movie. I think you are going to dig it.

Executive producer Brannon Braga followed that up, saying:

Braga: In season two the storytelling is even more assertive and bold and really there is some daring stuff that happens, narratively daring. I think the other big thing is that when we were writing season one, we didn’t have the cast. So, you were imagining these roles, but once the actors get into these roles, it changes everything and they way you are approaching these characters. It is a huge difference. It is such a great cast, perfectly cast.

Seth MacFarlane and Adrianne Palicki at The Orville panel at San Diego Comic-Con

Sitting down with TrekMovie during a press round-table, executive producer David A. Goodman talked about how the show will maintain its episodic nature in the second season, which means the balance of comedy to drama, will change from episode to episode, saying:

Goodman: There are episodes this year that are full comedy, start to finish. Then we got some serious, dark stuff. It is episode to episode. I think that is what attracted Seth to this kind of format. You don’t know what you are going to get week to week, because you are with these characters, the audience buys in. And the audience had no trouble with that in the first season and they wont’ have trouble in the second.

New to the show this year, executive producer/director John Cassar talked about how he starts with the drama when directing:

Cassar: You have to get all the dramatic beats first. If you can put the comedy into that, that is a bonus. That is the fun part for me and the challenge. They the key to all this is good storytelling. I think that is what Star Trek had, and that is what Seth loved, and that is what [Brannon and David] love, and that is what I love. If you can give me a good story, you can interweave whatever you want into it, if the story is good. And the stories are great, even better this year

At the same press event, Braga added:

Braga: We approach the writing the same way. We make sure there is a good story there. Sometimes the humor is laced in later than you might expect.

Goodman, Braga and Cassar at press round-table at San Diego Comic-Con 2018

A little more serialized, and more allegories

One of the core features of The Orville is that it is episodic and not highly serialized. However, as we have reported in our recent The Orvilleupdates, the second season will feature a 2-part episode, a return to the planet Moclus, the return of the bad guys the Krill, and even the return of Star Trek: Voyager actor Robert Picardo as the father of Halston Sage’s character Alara Kitan. At the press event Braga noted that, like the show he began his career on, some serialization evolves, even within the episodic structure of the show, noting:

Braga: It’s like The Next Generation, the show [The Orville] most closely resembles, season to season you start accruing characters you like, villains you like, villains you like to re-use, all sorts of different reasons. You are building a world.

David A. Goodman also weighed in, saying:

Goodman: And then there are the characters on our ship. There is a serialization aspect in that our characters grow and change and their interactions with each other has effects episode to episode. So, for fans, there are payoffs for watching every week. So they will see something that references another episode, but if you are watching the for first time, it won’t take you out of it.

At the same press event, the executive producers also talked about how the second season will continue to tell allegorical stories, as well as explaining why they do them:

Goodman: We definitely have some episodes which are allegories. We go back to Moclus, which was obviously was an allegory last year, and we explore a little bit more of that. And there are new worlds as well, where we explore. But it is not allegory in every episode. The balance is the same as it was last year.

Braga: If we find a topic that hasn’t been explored in a particular way, it is a story idea. At the end of the day, we are looking for good stories. We knew we wanted at least a couple of the episodes to be new cultures, that were interesting in some way. Otherwise it is just people with funny makeup.

Something unexpected coming for Szhor and Sage’s characters

Not at San Diego Comic-Con were Jessica Szhor, who joins the cast for season two, or Halston Sage. During the press event, Goodman was able to confirm Szhor’s character’s name and that she was from the same race as Halston Sage’s Alara, however he wouldn’t weigh in on if Szhor will be replacing Halston Sage during the second season. He did promise something interesting for the two characters, saying:

Goodman: [Jessica Szhor’s character] name is Talla, she is a Xelayan, like Alara. Jessica is a great actress. She brings a lot to this part, and I think the fans are going to like her…I think you are going to be intrigued to see what we do with both of those characters [Alara and Talla]. I don’t want to spoil it, but it is unexpected.

Adrianne Palicki at San Diego Comic-Con The Orville panel

Trek vets Frakes and Menosky as part of season two (Tim Russ too)

Of course one of the things that ties The Orville together with the Star Trek franchise is the number of Trek veterans behind the camera. This season will see both Voyager’s Robert Duncan McNeill and TNG’s Jonathan Frakes return to direct an episode. The cast talked glowingly about working with Frakes during the panel, here are a couple of highlights:

Peter Macon: He’s an actor, DP, passionate nut job, all rolled into one. He is great and specific. We were working last night and I got stuck in the weeds and I literally could not get it right. And he is just there and…and as an actor, he knows where you are and what is going on. He is in it with you. And he is sharp, and sings opera… It is like being in a master class, with a master, because he understands the shots and he only slightly makes you feel like a dumb-ass… He’s an actor’s director, you can tell he loves it, because he inhabits it.

Mark Jackson: He has a form of set Tourette’s, which I really admire. It scares you into acting.

J. Lee: We like him!

Adrianne Palicki: Love, love love him… Energy-wise, he brings it. It’s long hours and he constantly brings this energy. I don’t know how he does it. Also, shooting bridge scenes which can be the longest, nobody knows the bridge more than that guy. That is the most fun.

Frakes has actually been directing on The Orville this week, as can be evidenced by this tweet with his TNG co-star visiting the set today:

Another Trek vet joining this season, who we first caught a hint about back in February, is writer Joe Menosky, who wrote many episodes of Star Trek including the classic TNG episode “Darmok.” At the press event executive producers David A. Goodman and Brannon Braga talked about Menosky’s contribution to the second season of The Orville:

Goodman: He is in the writers room and on the staff. Joe is a great writer, obviously. Brannon has worked with him for a long time. We are huge fans of his, Seth is a huge fan of his. He played a big role this year.

Braga: Joe actually was working on Star Trek: Discovery when that first started up, and I was really pissed because we wanted him last year. But, he had taken that job before [The Orville] got off the ground. So, we are lucky to have him.

Speaking of Trek vets showing up on The Orville, Star Trek: Voyager actor Tim Russ revealed this week he just worked on the show, presumably in the current episode which is being directed by Frakes.

I just finished work on "Orville", great cast, crew, and producers, Seth was great!

Does Star Trek exist in The Orville universe?

An interesting question during the panel was posed that suggested because the first season of The Orville had a reference to Seinfeld and because Seinfeld had referenced Star Trek, therefore Star Trek must exist in the universe of The Orville. However, MacFarlane demurred, without confirming this fan theory:

MacFarlane: It’s a very good question, and it is what I thought about when we wrote episode 3, when Claire said “I’ll be your Obi Wan.” I don’t think there is any way to answer that, that would be satisfying to anybody.

Star Trek came up again when Penny Johnson Jerald was asked which of her on-screen sci-fi romantic partners was better, Yaphit on The Orville or Benjamin Sisko on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. For Penny, there was no question:

Penny Johnson: You don’t have to ask that question. I mean when you are next to a Hershey bar compared to a green blob of Jello. Come on now. You got the answer to that.

Penny Johnson Jerald shows off her morning dance routine

SDCC Orville Videos

Fox has released some videos from SDCC

Panel highlights

Post-panel Facebook live event

Cast hang out on Orville pedicabs

More from SDCC

There will be more exclusive interviews coming up from the Discovery press event. You may also want to check out our full panel report and the 8 things we learned from the press conference.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/26/sdcc18-the-orville-panel-promises-bolder-more-confident-sci-fi-in-season-2/feed/14Star Trek Online Launching ‘Age Of Discovery’ Tie-in To ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ This Fallhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/26/star-trek-online-launching-age-of-discovery-tie-in-to-star-trek-discovery-this-fall/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/26/star-trek-online-launching-age-of-discovery-tie-in-to-star-trek-discovery-this-fall/#commentsThu, 26 Jul 2018 15:00:18 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56608Today, Perfect World Entertainment and Cryptic Studios announced Star Trek Online is launching a multi-part adventure tied to the CBS All Access series Star Trek: Discovery. Starting this fall the PC version of the free-to-play MMORPG based on the Star Trek universe will release the first installment of Age of Discovery.

Mary Wiseman lends her voice to Age of Discovery

For the first time Star Trek Online players will be able to create a Federation Captain from Star Trek: Discovery and join forces with Starfleet Academy Cadet Sylvia Tilly, voiced by Mary Wiseman. Age of Discovery’s first installment will also introduce a new Discovery era tutorial, two episodes, new Reputation Tiers, a new queue (now referred to as a Task Force Operation) and several other new gameplay features.

Concept art for Syliva Tilly

Set during season 1 of Star Trek: Discovery

Age of Discovery opens in the year 2256, just after the Battle at the Binary Stars. In the wake of a brutal war against the Klingons, Starfleet Captains now face J’Ula, matriarch of the House of Mo’Kai and sister of T’Kuvma, who seeks to alter the destiny of the Alpha Quadrant. Players must rely on the help of fellow Starfleet Academy Cadet Sylvia Tilly (voiced by Mary Wiseman), who has come home to assist with training and see them off on their first assignment. From there, they will journey to iconic locations from Star Trek: Discovery, like the Dilithium Mines of Corvan II, explore the new experimental Crossfield class Starship, the U.S.S. Glenn, and defend Starbase 1 from a fearsome attack by the Klingon House of D’Ghor.

Screenshot from Age of Discovery

Screenshot from Age of Discovery

The first installment from Age of Discovery will introduce a brand new starting experience allowing players to create a Federation character from the Discovery era. The update also includes two new Discovery episodes available to all characters, a new Task Force Operation to defend Starbase 1 and an expansion to the game’s Reputation System to Tier 6 that unlocks powerful new rewards. Additional details – including the release date for Age of Discovery’s first installment on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation®4 – will be announced later this year.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/26/star-trek-online-launching-age-of-discovery-tie-in-to-star-trek-discovery-this-fall/feed/6Exclusive: Anthony Rapp Talks About Changes For Stamets In ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 2https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/25/exclusive-anthony-rapp-talks-about-changes-for-stamets-in-star-trek-discovery-season-2/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/25/exclusive-anthony-rapp-talks-about-changes-for-stamets-in-star-trek-discovery-season-2/#commentsThu, 26 Jul 2018 02:00:12 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56602TrekMovie had a chance to speak to some of the cast and crew of Star Trek: Discovery at a press event at San Diego Comic-Con, including actor Anthony Rapp. Our brief chat focused on how at the end of the first season, Rapp’s character, Paul Stamets, found himself at a crossroads, with the loss of his partner and his invention of the spore drive. (Video of the interview is below the transcript)

Stamets is in flux

A lot changed for you at the end of the first season.

I’ll say.

So, is it over for the spore drive, and what does that mean for you and your job onboard the USS Discovery?

I can’t really say too many things, except that I am really grateful that the writers have given me the chance to really deal with the aftermath of everything that happened in season one. Because in season one, there was so much to get done with the war and everything, that there wasn’t much time to really process and deal with what had happened. Now, I get the chance to deal. So, there are some things that are in question about what it means for my future. It’s an exploration, which is really satisfying to get to play.

Do you have a new job? Or are you just being coy?

I’m not being coy, it is a bit in flux.

Stamets and Tilly sharing a moment of math triumph in Star Trek: Discovery season 2 trailer

Earning quiet, character moments

You mentioned quiet moments [at the press conference]. Would you say this season has more of those in-between moments, character moments?

[Nods yes] I would say definitively, this season has many more of those quiet moments. And I’m really grateful for that. I think that we’ve earned them. I’m hoping, and certainly for us as we are playing them and reading these scripts, they feel very, very meaningful. And I hope that that reaches the audience in the way that we want it to.

A quiet moment in in the mess hall with Stamets, Culber and Tilly that was deleted from season 1, episode 7

Watch the interview

More from SDCC

There will be more exclusive interviews coming up from the Discovery press event. You may also want to check out our full panel report and the 8 things we learned from the press conference.

Pegg had lunch with Clarkson to talk Trek

Yesterday we reported on an interview conducted earlier this month at the UK premiere of Mission: Impossible – Fallout, where Simon Pegg was seen with Star Trek 4 director S.J. Clarkson. In a new interview conducted live today on Nerdist News, Pegg recounted his first meeting with Clarkson with glowing praise:

I met S.J. [Clarkson] in London recently, and she is just great. She is a real ball of ideas and so into it. We just had lunch and had a chat. Having co-written [Star Trek] Beyond and been part of the growth of the characters to a point, we were going to talk anyway, but I just wanted to meet her and say “Hi.” As soon as I talked to her for half an hour I knew this is going to be great. She is super, super into it, and very smart.

Pegg co-wrote 2016’s Star Trek Beyond with Doug Jung. The next Star Trek movie, which Clarkson is directing, is being written by Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne.

The actor also talked about Clarkson being the first woman to direct a Star Trek feature film, saying:

And it’s about time. It’s a shame that it’s a big thing, the first female director [for the Trek film franchise]. Come on dude, this is 2018. So, yeah, it is exciting stuff.

Oh yeah. As far as we know Quentin came in and pitched an idea. Obviously he is real busy at the moment. He is doing his Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and that is what he’ll be doing for the next few years. But if there comes a time when it becomes a reality, that would be incredibly exciting.

However, Pegg was clear that he has faith in Tarantino’s approach to Star Trek:

I imagine it would be a passionate and very faithful take. Quentin is a big Star Trek fan. I think people thought “Oh, he’ll just come in and dismantle it.” He will do something extraordinary with it. I am absolutely certain of that. If that happens, that would be great.

Quentin Tarantino pitched a Trek idea to J.J. Abrams which Pegg says will be extraordinary

Watch Pegg talk future Trek

Here is the full episode of Nerdist News Talks Back where Simon Pegg mostly talks about Mission: Impossible – Fallout, but delves into a bit of Star Trek at the end.

See Simon Pegg in Mission: Impossible – Fallout this weekend

Check out the new featurette featuring Simon Pegg for Mission: Impossible – Fallout, which opens July 27.

Keep up with all news on both Star Trek 4 and the Tarantino Trek project here.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/25/simon-pegg-says-star-trek-4-director-s-j-clarkson-is-super-into-it/feed/53First Look at October Trek Comics From IDWhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/25/first-look-at-july-october-trek-comics-from-idw/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/25/first-look-at-july-october-trek-comics-from-idw/#commentsWed, 25 Jul 2018 19:02:46 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56585IDW has just released their October 2018 solicitations with synopses and covers for all their titles. There will be two new Trek titles for the month. This includes the 4th entry in Star Trek: The Next Generation mini-series Terra Incognita which is set during the fourth season of TNG and picks up after the events of the Through the Mirror series. October also brings the second issue in the Star Trek: The Animated Series and Transformers crossover, Star Trek vs. Transformers.

October 2018 Star Trek comics

Star Trek vs. Transformers #2 (of 4) (32 pages • $3.99)

Written by John Barber and Mike Johnson, art by Philip Murphy

The Enterprise is burning, brought down by the united forces of the Klingons and Decepticons. Captain Kirk and Optimus Prime have a plan to strike back, but can they bring their scattered Starfleet crew and Autobots together before Megatron wipes them out? The no-holds-barred Saturday morning mash-up continues!

Cover A by Marcelo Ferreira

Retail incentive cover

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Terra Incognita #4 (32 pages • $3.99)

Written by Scott Tipton & David Tipton, art by Angel Hernandez

On the heels of the blockbuster THROUGH THE MIRROR mini-series comes a brand-new NEXT GENERATION series, featuring untold tales of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D! Wesley Crusher finds himself in a situation outside his comfort zone and must rise to the challenge.

Cover A By Tony Shasteen

Photo cover

Retail incentive cover A by Elizabeth Beals

Retail incetive cover B by J.K. Woodward

Previews of other upcoming titles:

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/25/first-look-at-july-october-trek-comics-from-idw/feed/5Exclusive: Mary Wiseman Talks About Tilly’s New Position In ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 2https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/24/exclusive-mary-wiseman-talks-about-tillys-bigger-role-in-star-trek-discovery-season-2/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/24/exclusive-mary-wiseman-talks-about-tillys-bigger-role-in-star-trek-discovery-season-2/#commentsWed, 25 Jul 2018 00:09:40 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56581TrekMovie had a chance to speak to some of the cast and crew of Star Trek: Discovery at the press event at San Diego Comic-Con, including actor Mary Wiseman. Her character, Sylvia Tilly, went through quite a lot in the first season and Wiseman says she has even more to deal with in season two. (Video of the interview is below the transcript.)

Tilly on the bridge

The big thing for you this year is Tilly is now an ensign. Does that change anything for you in the way you feel about your character and how the character interacts with the crew?

Yeah, I think she feels less like a mentee this season. She really has a role on the ship for real this season. She is an ensign, she is moving up, she still has a lot to learn, but she is not a cadet anymore. She’s here and she has something to offer.

Can you talk about that new role? In the last season she was working a lot with Stamets on the spore drive a lot, but isn’t that no longer sporing?

As you see at the end of [last] season, you see that Tilly is on the bridge. She is going to be on the bridge much more. A bit more out of engineering and into the real command center of the entire ship. She is still going to be helping Commander Stamets (Anthony Rapp). They have a really deep bond personally and professionally. I think they really understand each other, scientifically. So, they really have a great working relationship. She will continue her relationship with [Michael] Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green). Burnham will still be able to teach a lot about how to be a member of Starfleet. More of the same, but bigger, better.

A big thing for Tilly in the first season was being on the command path and her ambition. Is that still a part of the character, that arc?

Yeah, it is central for her. She dreamed of being a captain like I dreamed of being an actor, from the time she was very little until her now, as an adult. It is her vocation and that’s her thing, her pie in the sky. That’s going to be a huge part of her arc in season two.

Tilly will be spending more time on the bridge in season 2

Michael and Sylvia, still roomies and besties

You have a new bunkmate?

Nope, same.

So still with Michael Burnham, even though she is a commander now? Is there limited space on the ship?

Maybe they just like living together?

So, is there still a mentor/mentee relationship with Michael?

I think it will still be there. She is so much further along than Tilly is. Tilly has so much to learn from her, both personally and professionally. And they are friends, they are best friends. There is also that relationship, and there is a mentor/mentee relationship.

Tilly and Burnham have come a long way from this icy start

Missing Jason Isaacs and loving the Captain Killy outfit

How has the set dynamic changed with Jason Isaacs out and Anson Mount in?

We miss Jason. He is such a talented actor. I definitely miss his sense of humor and his presence on set. Anson is so lovely and such a kind guy, a silly guy and such a great actor. They are different actors, but we are still a family and it still feels really good.

You got to wear some interesting outfits during the first season. What were some of your favorites and do you get a chance to get into some different costumes for the second season?

I really liked the Mirror Universe getup [laughs]. I thought it was pretty cool, and pretty commanding. It made me feel like a different character, which was good. Next season, yeah, sure, there will be new stuff. New stuff and some same, same, same.

The “Captain Killy” Mirror Universe outfit is Wiseman’s favorite from season 1

Watch the interview

More from SDCC

There will be more exclusive interviews coming up from the Discovery press event. You may also want to check out our full panel report and the 8 things we learned from the press conference.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/24/exclusive-mary-wiseman-talks-about-tillys-bigger-role-in-star-trek-discovery-season-2/feed/24Nichelle Nichols Honored With Comic-Con Lifetime Achievement Awardhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/24/nichelle-nichols-honored-with-comic-con-lifetime-achievement-award/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/24/nichelle-nichols-honored-with-comic-con-lifetime-achievement-award/#commentsTue, 24 Jul 2018 22:37:34 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56570One of the Star Trek highlights of San Diego Comic-Con came during the panel for the upcoming documentary From The Bridge (see TrekMovie preview). The panel featured original Uhura actress Nichelle Nichols, who was surprised when it was announced she would be receiving Comic-Con’s InkPot Award.

Nichelle Nichols on the From The Bridge panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2018 with Tom DeSanto, Kerry O’Quinn, Spencer F. Lee, and Rod Roddenberry

Nichols picks up Inkpot Award at her last SDCC

Comic-Con International’s Inkpot Awards were established in 1974 and are given to individuals for their contributions to the worlds of comics, science fiction/fantasy, film, television, animation, and fandom services. A couple of dozen are awarded each year, with Nichelle Nichols being one of the recipients for 2018.

Nichols was honored this year in part because she has announced this will be her last appearance at San Diego Comic-Con. The Inkpot award for Nichols was in the film and television category. It was presented to Nichols by Comic-Con programming assistant director Tommy Goldbach, who noted the award was honoring Nichols for more than just her work as an actress, saying:

Not only did Nichelle Nichols inspire generations of young women with her groundbreaking portrayal of Lt. Uhura in Star Trek, but her work as an activist for space travel helped women and minorities pursue careers as astronauts and revolutionize US spaceflight.

Nichelle Nichols at San Diego Comic-Con 2018 with her InkPot Award

Before this year, the only actor from the original Star Trek to receive an Inkpot award was Walter Koenig. More information on the Inkpot Awards can be found at comic-con.org.

Nichols talks about why she likes to go to Comic-Con

Before her appearance at SDCC, Nichols did a local TV interview with San Diego’s CBS Channel 8. She talked about Martin Luther King, From the Bridge and why she liked to interact with the fans at Comic-Con. She also briefly discussed an upcoming project she is working on called Noah’s Room, but didn’t provide any details.

From The Bridge

Nichols was at SDCC for From the Bridge, an upcoming documentary about the evolution of fandom. She isn’t the only Star Trek connection as the film is hosted by Star Trek’s George Takei and it also features Star Trek: Discovery actor Doug Jones, and son of Gene Roddenberry, Rod Roddenberry.

Nichelle Nichols at Comic-Con 2018 From The Bridge panel

From the Bridge is set for a theatrical run in late summer 2018 and will be released on VOD, DVD, and Blu-ray in November.

More from SDCC

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/24/nichelle-nichols-honored-with-comic-con-lifetime-achievement-award/feed/8Simon Pegg Says ‘Star Trek 4’ Is Currently “In Prep”https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/24/simon-pegg-says-star-trek-4-is-currently-in-prep/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/24/simon-pegg-says-star-trek-4-is-currently-in-prep/#commentsTue, 24 Jul 2018 16:59:09 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56562Simon Pegg, Scotty in the Star Trek movies, has spent the last couple of weeks doing promotion for Mission: Impossible – Fallout, which opens this weekend. In one interview, he gave an update on the upcoming Star Trek 4 follow-up film to Star Trek Beyond.

Getting the band back together

Getting all the main actors for Star Trek together is not an easy task, as they are all very much in demand. Right now, Chris Pine is shooting the Wonder Woman sequel, Karl Urban is shooting his new superhero show The Boys, Zachary Quinto is on Broadway in The Boys in the Band, and John Cho is shooting The Grudge. Zoe Saldana has recently wrapped up her work for two Avatar sequels, but director James Cameron is planning on going back into production on two more and she is expected to return for Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3.

In addition, all the actors are attached to a number of projects in various stages of development including Chris Hemsworth, who is returning for Star Trek 4 and is currently shooting the next entry in the Men in Black franchise. As for Simon Pegg, after he wraps up promoting Mission: Impossible – Fallout, he has a number of projects he is working on as a producer for his new production company as well.

Paramount has yet to set an official release date for the film, but clearly, progress continues. However, and assuming things stay on track, best estimates now are for production on Star Trek 4 to begin in early 2019 for a 2020 release.

Watch Pegg talk a little Trek

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/24/simon-pegg-says-star-trek-4-is-currently-in-prep/feed/43Exclusive: Wilson Cruz Talks About Dr. Culber’s Mysterious Return In ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 2https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/23/exclusive-wilson-cruz-talks-about-dr-culbers-mysterious-return-in-star-trek-discovery-season-2/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/23/exclusive-wilson-cruz-talks-about-dr-culbers-mysterious-return-in-star-trek-discovery-season-2/#commentsTue, 24 Jul 2018 00:07:26 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56556TrekMovie had a chance to speak to some of the cast and crew of Star Trek: Discovery at a press event on Friday, including actor Wilson Cruz. His character, Dr. Hugh Culber, was killed off in the first season, and we talked about the mystery of his return and what Culber will be up to in season two. We also discussed how the death of the character was handled in the media. (Video of the interview is below the transcript)

Culber is really coming back, not as a flashback or a ghost

How conscious and how much do you guys on set talk about the online fan community, and feedback on every episode?

We are aware. We don’t live in a bubble. We like to hear what people think. That’s why we do it. Most of us come from the stage. We like to hear some reaction from an audience. When you are doing a TV show, the only way you can do that is online.

I think we enjoy the passion that the fandom brings to this. We feel a sense of responsibility while we are doing this, to our fans to make sure we are making something they are going to be wowed by. So, we are aware.

And what’s been really fun for the past year in my case is to have read all the different theories about how I would be returning. And nobody has gotten it yet, which is pretty cool. But I love reading that stuff.

The way you return, would you say it is something they haven’t done in Star Trek before?

Yes. [laughs]

But it’s not just a flashback. You are back in some way. You are interacting, people are talking to you. You are not a ghost.

Correct. I can say that.

Culber visits with Stamets inside the mycelial network in season 1

He’s now a main cast member with a lot to do in season 2

Would you say your role is more or less significant than last season, where you were in maybe half the episodes?

Last season I was recurring because I was doing 13 Reasons Why at the same time, and this year I am not recurring.

So, you are main cast?

I am.

You are in episode 201?

No. [Pauses] Ah, maybe. [smiles]

You are the worst [laughs]

I am the worst, because I am trying to keep this job…I mean, honestly, this season for this couple [Culber and Stamets] is really about deepening them individually. We get to find out a lot about Culber – who he is, what he wants, what makes him tick, what his ambitions are – separate and apart from this relationship. But we get to learn a lot about this relationship and it is put through the test.

An important thing you have talked about before was for both Stamets and Culber to have lives. They weren’t just their relationship. You were a doctor and you were smart, unfortunately too smart [resulting in uncovering and getting killed by Voq/Tyler]. So, you guys keep talking about the relationship for season 2, are there things for you to do that have nothing to do with Paul Stamets?

Yes. There is a lot. That’s what I mean, we are really are going to expand the presence of Culber and who he is and all of those things. We are not only going to see this relationship and how it is affected by this, but who they are.

He has gone through a trauma, and that affects and changes and stays with you. It has a physical effect on you. There are generations of African-American people who are carrying a physical element of themselves that is caused by the trauma that their ancestors went through. So, if that happens, you can only imagine what trauma a person who had their neck snapped carries around.

The trauma of Culber’s death will be dealt with in season 2

Expanding Trek’s diversity and managing fallout from killing off Culber

You guys have talked a lot about diversity and part of the diversity is your sexuality. What about being Puerto Rican and being a Latino actor, you know, there haven’t been a lot in Star Trek and so is that established much in the show? Is it clear that [Culber] is Puerto Rican?

I can say, it will be clear this year.

When [Culber] was killed off, there was an immediate full-court press to let everyone know he’s not dead, he’s coming back. That is unusual for a show that is so secretive. Did they know when they killed you, that they weren’t going to really kill you off? Can you talk about why it was decided to let everyone so rapidly know?

Because of that reason. Because we knew he was coming back. And we didn’t want people to think it was a character that had just been killed off. [Culber] had to die. First of all, he had to die for what happens at the end of the season. In order for the universe, and all the universes, to be saved, somebody had to be in the mycelia network to know what was going on and be able to know what was going on and have a strong enough bond with somebody in our plane that could reach them. And that bond was love. So, we saved the universe because that had to happen. And that had to happen so we can do what we are about to do.

Wilson Cruz and Discovery showrunners appeared on After Trek to assure fans Culber was coming back

Watch the interview

More from SDCC

There will be more exclusive interviews coming up from the Discovery press event. You may also want to check out our full panel report and the 8 things we learned from the press conference.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/23/exclusive-wilson-cruz-talks-about-dr-culbers-mysterious-return-in-star-trek-discovery-season-2/feed/63Author Michael Chabon Gives Details On His ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Short “Calypso”https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/23/author-michael-chabon-gives-details-on-his-star-trek-discovery-short-calypso/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/23/author-michael-chabon-gives-details-on-his-star-trek-discovery-short-calypso/#commentsMon, 23 Jul 2018 20:18:03 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56544At Comic-Con, it was announced that there are four Star Trek: Discovery mini-episodes in the works, called Short Treks, which will premiere in the fall. TrekMovie revealed in an exclusive interview with executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Heather Kadin that one of them was written by author and Star Trek fan Michael Chabon.

Chabon’s “Calypso” Short Treks episode

Today Chabon, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist (who also has a Hugo and Nebula), posted a photo of himself sitting in the captain’s chair on the set of Discovery. In his Instagram post the author reveals his episode is called “Calypso” and was already shot a few weeks ago, directed by Discovery executive producer and director Olatunde Osunsanmi. “Calypso” stars actor Aldis Hodge (Leverage) as Craft, a man who finds himself the only human onboard a deserted ship.

Short Treks coming this fall

“Calypso” starring Aldis Hodge and written by Michael Chabon, will be one of four Short Treks episodes coming to CBS All Access. CBS describes the Short Treks as an “opportunity for deeper storytelling and exploration of key characters and themes which fit into Star Trek: Discovery and the expanding Star Trek universe.”

Actor Aldis Hodge to be featured in the ‘Short Treks’ episode written by Michael Chabon

The writers of the other three mini-episodes have yet to be announced, but a few details on them have emerged so far. One will explore Saru’s backstory as the first Kelpien in Starfleet, another will be about Tilly’s journey aboard the U.S.S. Discovery and her friendship with an unlikely partner, and the last installment will see Rainn Wilson reprise his role as Harry Mudd, in an episode he will also direct.

Each Short Treks episode will be 10-15 minutes in length, with one released each month starting this fall, likely running from September through to December. Executive producer Alex Kurtzman noted that the films are something to tide the fans over until the second season of Discovery premieres in January 2019.

Official logo for Short Treks

Chabon the Trekkie and genre author

Chabon was introduced to Star Trek by his dad, and his fandom is made clear in his Instagram post, where he describes sitting in the captain’s chair as “the most exciting part of all, personally.” He’s also clearly a fan of both TOS and TNG.

He’s a genre fan, too — he previously pitched story ideas for movies for the X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises, and wrote a draft for 2004’s Spider-Man 2. About a third of his script made it into the final film. His novel Wonder Boys was made into a movie starring Michael Douglas and Tobey Maguire and directed by Curtis Hanson in 2000. His Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay takes a deep dive into the early days of the comic book industry, and is a great read for Star Trek fans looking to get familiar with his work. And his New York Times best selling novel The Yiddish Policemen’s Union is another great read for fans of alternative history.

Chabon’s novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Star Trek: Discovery is available exclusively in the USA on CBS All Access. It airs in Canada on Space and streams on CraveTV. It is available on Netflix everywhere else.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/23/author-michael-chabon-gives-details-on-his-star-trek-discovery-short-calypso/feed/61SDCC18: UD Replicas Debuts Star Trek Line With Motorcycle Style Fashion Jacketshttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/23/sdcc18-ud-replicas-debuts-star-trek-line-with-motorcycle-style-fashion-jackets/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/23/sdcc18-ud-replicas-debuts-star-trek-line-with-motorcycle-style-fashion-jackets/#commentsMon, 23 Jul 2018 17:45:39 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56528Over the last few days, TrekMovie has reported from San Diego Comic-Con about new product reveals from Star Trek licensees Mego, QMx, Anovos, Silver Screen Bottling, Diamond Select and Gentle Giant. But there was also a brand new licensee there who was quietly showing off their first Star Trek products.

UD Replicas makes motorcycle outerwear, primarily in leather, with replica designs from a number of franchises. They have produced outfits for various DC properties like Batman, Superman, The Flash and Wonder Woman, as well as Star Wars and even the band KISS. And now they have added Star Trek to their roster.

Motorcycle fashion jackets from UD Replicas

Their first Star Trek product will be a classic motorcycle-style fashion jacket. They jackets will come in both women’s and men’s sizes, but they were only showing the women’s version at San Diego Comic-Con.

Made out of PVC to keep the price point down, the Star Trek jackets come in black, with accents and lapels in a choice of classic department colors of gold, blue and red.

Each jacket will feature a custom Star Trek pin. The prototypes at Comic-Con featured a Discovery mini-pin as a placeholder. A spokesperson said the final pin will be a “generic unique Star Trek delta that isn’t tied to a specific show.” The zippers also have a subtle Star Trek delta design on them.

UD Replicas has a target date of the end of August to launch the product officially for pre-orders. Price has yet to be set, but will be somewhere between $100 and $150. UD sells exclusively direct on their site udreplicas.com.

More to come from UD

A spokesperson from UD said the company is committed to doing more Star Trek products including a higher-end leather motorcycle jacket, which is currently being designed. They are also considering products beyond jackets like they do for other licensees, including footwear. The company has a license that covers all of Star Trek, including Star Trek: Discovery, but not the new Kelvin movies.

Superman leather street jacket from UD Replicas

The Flash leather high tops from UD Replicas

More from SDCC

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/23/sdcc18-ud-replicas-debuts-star-trek-line-with-motorcycle-style-fashion-jackets/feed/25Watch ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Cast Describe Anson Mount’s Captain Pike As A Cowboy And A Superstarhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/23/watch-star-trek-discovery-cast-describe-anson-mounts-captain-pike-as-a-cowboy-and-a-superstar/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/23/watch-star-trek-discovery-cast-describe-anson-mounts-captain-pike-as-a-cowboy-and-a-superstar/#commentsMon, 23 Jul 2018 16:33:38 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56539The first Star Trek: Discovery season 2 trailer released at Comic-Con showed us that Anson Mount’s Captain Christopher Pike takes command of the USS Discovery, and yesterday TrekMovie.com exclusively revealed he will be featured for all 13 episodes for the second season. Now CBS has released a video of the cast at Comic-Con talking about Mount’s Pike. They also put out a video of the cast reading fan reactions from social media to the trailer.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/23/watch-star-trek-discovery-cast-describe-anson-mounts-captain-pike-as-a-cowboy-and-a-superstar/feed/8Exclusive: Anson Mount Talks Playing Pike, Reveals How Many Episodes He’s In Of ‘Star Trek: Discovery’https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/22/exclusive-anson-mount-talks-playing-pike-reveals-how-many-episodes-hes-in-of-star-trek-discovery/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/22/exclusive-anson-mount-talks-playing-pike-reveals-how-many-episodes-hes-in-of-star-trek-discovery/#commentsSun, 22 Jul 2018 20:30:08 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56508TrekMovie had a chance to speak to some of the cast and crew of Star Trek: Discovery at a press event on Friday, including actor Anson Mount, who’s taking on the legendary role of Captain Christopher Pike in season 2.

Captain Pike is a major character throughout the season

As soon as you got the role, you started dropping a lot of sick Star Trek memes. What’s your familiarity with Star Trek and how much did the original performance of Captain Pike influence your performance?

It’s funny, I’m the first to admit I steal from other actors all the time. I think more actors should do that. For some reason with this role, it didn’t feel right. And I needed to come at it in my own way with a sense of respect and history, but also, we’re going to find out more about Pike than any other iteration of the character. And we’re all kind of figuring it out as we go, and the cast is doing a really good job of supporting me trying to figure it out. But trying not to feel pressure, because you can’t really play under pressure. You know, it doesn’t work. All I know right now is that he’s got a good heart.

They’re still shooting, so was it an arc or are you a season 2 character?

Oh yeah. I’m contracted.

For the whole season, I meant. Main cast, whole season?

Yep.

13 episodes.

Yep.

Anson Mount as Captain Pike in Star Trek: Discovery

There will be connections to “The Cage”

So were you a Trekkie before this?

Hell, yeah. I grew up on the original in syndication. I saw every episode as a kid multiple times.

There’s something a little jaded about Pike when we meet him early on in “The Cage.” Would you say that maybe some of what he experiences in this is part of his arc that takes him to that point?

Editor’s note: The question was intended to touch on how “The Cage” informed Mount’s performance, and how it affects where Pike is now. The fast pace of the red carpet means sometimes questions aren’t phrased perfectly. To clarify, the events of “The Cage” took place in 2254, three years prior to DSC season two (2257).

You’re going to see some easter eggs that you’ll recognize about Pike, I can tell you that.

Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Pike, captured by the Talosians in “The Cage.”

Watch the interview

More from SDCC

There will be more exclusive interviews coming up from the Discovery press event, along with a press conference report. You may also want to check out our full panel report and the 8 things we learned from the press conference.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/22/exclusive-anson-mount-talks-playing-pike-reveals-how-many-episodes-hes-in-of-star-trek-discovery/feed/116Recasting Spock, Pike’s Command Style And More Season 2 Details From ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Crewhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/22/recasting-spock-pikes-command-style-and-more-season-2-details-from-star-trek-discovery-crew/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/22/recasting-spock-pikes-command-style-and-more-season-2-details-from-star-trek-discovery-crew/#commentsSun, 22 Jul 2018 18:34:50 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56523While at San Diego Comic-Con, the panelists for Star Trek: Discovery also sat down for some group media events with some of the major outlets, where more clues about the second season emerged. We have distilled all of them and put together all the highlights.

Spock has been cast and it wasn’t easy

When talking to Variety, producers gave a little more detail on the introduction of Spock for the second season, which was teased during the panel on Friday. The Variety reporter asked if Spock has been recast, and executive producer and showrunner Alex Kurtzman confirmed it:

We are, we are casting a new Spock. It’s not just a possibility, it’s been done.

Kurtzman went on to talk about the challenge they faced casting Spock:

Everybody assumes that because Spock is all about logic, that there is no emotion in there and that is entirely untrue. So, finding an actor convey what we know to be very Vulcan, but also reveal so much emotion in the eyes and in the small gestures, so you understand there is just a tornado of things just happening under the surface is critical. So you need an actor who can do both of those things at the same time, which is very challenging.

The group also talked about how the message of hope in Star Trek is important to set an example. New cast member Anson Mount showed his Trek cred as he talked about Gene Roddenberry’s vision, Doug Jones talked about the challenge of playing the first Kelpien, and Mary Wiseman spoke about breaking new ground in Star Trek profanity.

Pike is “the opposite” of Lorca

He is very by the book, usually, and a good person. And I don’t always play good people, so it’s fun.

Executive producer Heather Kadin added:

There is this cool confidence. It is such a nice to have such an opposition to what Jason [Isaacs] played last year [with Captain Lorca]. The presence is very captain-like immediately, but a total opposite note.

Kurtzman also weighed in:

One of the things that was particularly nice about writing Pike, is that he has enough confidence and authority to apologize when he is wrong. I think that is something that Lorca would never do.

Sonequa Martin-Green brought up that Michelle Yeoh is returning to play former Emperor Georgiou, saying that she and Michael Burnham have to find a way to work together in the second season.

The group talked about twists in the first season, including how they invented the actor “Javid Iqbal” to keep the secret that Latif was both Voq and Tyler. The cast seemed get a kick out of how that inspired the parody account “@RealJavidIqbal,” which posted updates on the life of the “real actor” who played Voq.

Season two isn’t about the Enterprise

When they spoke to ET, the group was asked how the arrival of the USS Enterprise at the end of season one impacts season two. Alex Kurtzman offered some details.

It affects it pretty significantly. Obviously Captain Pike has shown up and he is here for a very specific reason. But, what we will discover is that the reason the Enterprise is here is tied into a larger story that is really the thrust of season two, that isn’t about the Enterprise.

They also talk about the fan reaction to the show and how they are so excited to see cosplayers at Comic-Con.

More group interviews with panelists

The other group chats with major media outlets were mostly casual and fun, but there were still some interesting moments.

More from SDCC to come

TrekMovie has already posted a number of articles from San Diego with our own coverage and more (Click here to see all our SDCC 2018 coverage), and there is still much more to come. So stay tuned.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/22/recasting-spock-pikes-command-style-and-more-season-2-details-from-star-trek-discovery-crew/feed/149SDCC18: ‘The Orville’ Season 2 Trailer Releasedhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/21/sdcc18-the-orville-season-2-trailer-released/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/21/sdcc18-the-orville-season-2-trailer-released/#commentsSun, 22 Jul 2018 00:16:04 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56497During The Orville panel fans in the Indigo Ballroom were shown a new season 2 trailer. Fox has now released it online.

Teaser

More of The Orville to come

Fox hosted a press event prior to the panel that TrekMovie attended, so check back later for more from the panel and the roundtable press event.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/21/sdcc18-the-orville-season-2-trailer-released/feed/1338 Things We Learned About ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 2 At Comic-Con Press Conferencehttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/21/8-things-we-learned-about-star-trek-discovery-season-2-at-comic-con-press-conference/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/21/8-things-we-learned-about-star-trek-discovery-season-2-at-comic-con-press-conference/#commentsSat, 21 Jul 2018 19:00:24 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56492Following the Star Trek: Discovery panel at Comic-Con’s famous Hall H, there was a press conference in which the Disco team got a little more in-depth about some of what’s planned for season 2. Here are the eight biggest takeaways from the conference.

1. This isn’t “The Cage” Captain Pike

Based on executive producer Alex Kurtzman’s description of Pike, he’s not the jaded, exhausted Pike we met in “The Cage” (which took place 3 years prior to the start of season 2).

What I love about Pike, and I think this kind of comes from what I took from Jeffrey Hunter’s performance, and to some degree the Pike that we did in the movies, is that he’s a man who’s very kind, who has tremendous authority, and yet can still apologize when he’s wrong. And so in many ways he’s the opposite of Lorca, that way.

You have to be very careful about the footprints you lay, because they’re there for a very long time … Pike was Roddenberry’s original face of Starfleet. I only knew that there’s a tremendous optimism to this person. And a good heart, someone who probably had good mentors.

2. Rebecca Romijn’s Number One will get some character development

Pike’s Number One, originally played by Majel Barrett-Roddenberry in the pilot “The Cage,” will appear in Discovery, portrayed by Rebecca Romijn. Kurtzman elaborated a little on what to expect.

I think what Majel conveyed in TOS is a real sense of authority and confidence and obviously a connection to Pike that could have suggested many different things. And we’re definitely digging into that. I think it was funny seeing Rebecca – first of all, seeing the actors show up on set in the TOS outfits was really incredible. It was just an amazing thing because the color scheme is obviously so different from Discovery. So seeing the actors in that place, you get this amazing feeling of re-interpreting and yet honoring at the same time.

The thing that I love about what Anson’s bringing and what Rebecca’s bringing is that there’s a depth that I think couldn’t be explored in those characters, obviously given what little screen time they had back then.

He added that there’s a bonus to casting Romijn, pointing out that “…obviously there’s almost a fanboy quality that comes with Rebecca just based on X-Men.”

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry as Number One will be played by Rebecca Romijn, seen here in The Librarians

3. Saru’s history will be explored

Doug Jones was excited to talk about the plans for Saru, although (of course) he couldn’t reveal the specifics.

As far as Kelpiens go, I’m the only one you’ve ever seen in this universe. Of course in the mirror universe, they were dinner.

I think the keyword is evolution, this year. We do visit my home planet, we’re going to meet some of my family, we’re going to find out where Saru comes from, how he became what he is, why the fear, who’s the predator, all those things are going to come into play.

Saru, Star Trek’s first Kelpien

4. Dr. Culber is back, somehow

Wilson Cruz pointed out that his very appearance on the panel is a pretty good indication that Culber is going to be a real character this season, and not just an occasional Stamets vision or flashback. “My neck feels fine,” he said, referring to the first season episode “Despite Yourself” when Voq/Tyler kills him by snapping his neck.

I think we’re gonna learn a lot more individually about these two men, and together. I think we’re going to deepen this relationship and these characters.

Co-star Anthony Rapp (Paul Stamets) chimed in with a slightly more informative hint about how Culber might return, fueling fan speculation that the mycelial network may contain some of the answers.

It really is inspired by real science, that the real Paul Stamets, who’s a mycologist, has to say about the nature of mycellia and how it interacts with matter in the universe, and his theories about that.

Wilson Cruz as Dr. Hugh Culber from Season 1

5. L’Rell is the new Klingon Chancellor

At the end of season 1, L’Rell held the Klingon Empire in the palm of her hand, literally, having been given a detonator to a bomb buried deep inside Q’onoS by Michael Burnham. Actress Mary Chieffo explained where this story and her character are headed.

I do now have some power over the Empire. I’m now the Chancellor, trying to do my best to uphold T’Kuvma’s vision. But it’s fraught with strife, because patriarchies are patriarchies, and often times they do things when they’re angry at women. (laughs) But beyond that, I just think that you get the kind of grandiose side of things, the ruler, but then you also get the heart and the humanity.

Mary Chieffo as L’Rell in season 1

6. We won’t be revisiting the mirror universe

But Kurtzman doesn’t rule out the possibility of other parallel universes.

I think we felt that the mirror universe served an incredibly specific character purpose last year, in that the first half of the season was about blowing up Burnham’s life … and any choice we make about a universes isn’t just about, ‘Hey, let’s do that because it’s cool,’ it’s because there’s a great character journey to be had there. So I think this season is not so much about going to alternate universes as much as it’s about maintaining and growing the direction of the characters. But certainly, the idea of going to other universes is open.

Captain Burnham in the mirror universe from season 1

7. Season 2 will give us some TOS-like moments

The turbolift scene that ended the season 2 sizzle reel shown at the Comic-Con panel gave us a little taste of what to look forward to in terms of some of the lighter moments. Kurtzman elaborated,

There’s a lot of fun this season. I think, obviously last season was about war, and it’s tough to really stop down and have a whole lot of humor when the stakes are so high and life and death is really what they’re dealing with every day.

And tonally now, we’ve gotten to a place where the crew has more– even though the stakes are very high, there’s more down time in moments, which allows for more humor, which allows for a slower onion layer pulling open of character and the details of their relationships that we would never have been able to give time to. I feel like tonally it’s probably a more buoyant season, even though there are some episodes that are very very serious and intense. I think you’ll see in the first episode that there’s more balance between some of the humor that you’d see on TOS, and the high stakes of the more modern versions of Trek.

Linus and crew in the turbolift

8. Canon questions will be answered

When asked if they are ever tempted to just ignore canon, Kurtzman was clear that they won’t, and that that they understand some of the issues the fans are having.

We’ve never been tempted to just say screw it, we’re doing our own thing. However, we are constantly challenging ourselves in the writers’ room with how can we push really really hard against the edges of what canon is without breaking it. And that means things like coming up with the spore drive, which obviously never existed before Discovery, and why did Spock never mention his sister. These are huge, huge questions.

And we will be syncing up with canon, and we will be answering those questions … I think the key for us is to do it in a way that both feels inevitable and totally surprising. And hopefully by the time you get to the end of the season you will understand why all of those things have never been discussed.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/21/8-things-we-learned-about-star-trek-discovery-season-2-at-comic-con-press-conference/feed/56Exclusive: Alex Kurtzman Discusses Building Extended Star Trek Television Universehttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/21/exclusive-alex-kurtzman-discusses-building-extended-star-trek-television-universe/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/21/exclusive-alex-kurtzman-discusses-building-extended-star-trek-television-universe/#commentsSat, 21 Jul 2018 16:57:02 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56493TrekMovie had a chance to speak to some of the cast and crew of Star Trek: Discovery at a press event on Friday, including executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Heather Kadin, who is also president of Kurtzman’s production company Secret Hideout. In their case, the discussion focused on the recently announced plan for Kurtzman and Secret Hideout to expand the Star Trek television universe beyond Discovery. They also revealed one of the writers for the upcoming Trek Shortsannounced at the main SDCC panel.

A Star Trek Cinematic Universe on TV with different tones and formats

How true is it than you are now in charge of a “Star Trek Cinematic Universe,” on television? Is that what really is going on?

Alex Kurtzman: On television, that is true. We are doing a lot of work on building out the universe, and we’re wanting to take our time, but there’s a lot of exciting things on the horizon.

And this is beyond Discovery?

Kurtzman: [nods yes]

Would it be fair to say it’s all set in the Prime Universe, but possibly different time periods?

Heather Kadin: Well I also think it’s important to say that it’s not just one hour drama. I mean, there’s so much opportunity to “bend not break” the franchise in formats we haven’t seen in a while, different tones. And what’s amazing about Star Trek is that it’s such a beloved franchise that we have writers calling – I mean, Michael Chabon, who wrote one of the shorts that Aldis Hodge is starring in – Michael Chabon, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, is like “Hey, I want to write a short for you for $2.55”. So we get people from all different tones – comedy writers, animation writers, who just want so desperately to be a part of Trek.

Kurtzman: [People] who love it, who loved it since they were kids, and to just have the opportunity to play in the toy store, so amazing.

Pulitzer Prize winning author Michael Chabon wrote one of the upcoming ‘Trek Shorts’

Animated series? Picard? Khan?

So the animated is definitely going to happen?

Kadin: Conversations…

Kurtzman: It’s a conversation, yeah.

And you’re looking for other places besides CBSAA, like there’s possibly a CW thing?

Kadin: I think right now it’s fair to say the plan is that any and all live-action Star Trek will be on CBS All Access.

Any reaction to either the Wrath of Khan story or the Picard story?…There are rumors, care to debunk, or is it alive?

Kurtzman: I mean, they sound super cool, I’m a huge fan of both stories, it’d be really cool to see something like that.

Kurtzman didn’t confirm rumor Patrick Stewart is returning for a new Picard mini-series, but did say it was a “cool” idea

Watch interview

More from SDCC

There will be more exclusive interviews coming up from the Discovery press event, along with a press conference report. You may also want to check out our full panel report.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/21/exclusive-alex-kurtzman-discusses-building-extended-star-trek-television-universe/feed/73SDCC18: ‘Star Trek Discovery’ Panel Talks Captain Pike, Canon Connections, Saru’s Homeworld And More [UPDATE]https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/20/sdcc18-star-trek-discovery-panel-talks-captain-pike-canon-connections-sarus-homeworld-and-more/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/20/sdcc18-star-trek-discovery-panel-talks-captain-pike-canon-connections-sarus-homeworld-and-more/#commentsSat, 21 Jul 2018 05:40:25 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56477TrekMovie’s crew was in attendance of today’s Star Trek: Discovery panel at Comic-Con in San Diego and we reported out a few highlights earlier in the day. We can now report in more detail on what was said during the panel.

“Short Treks” To Tide Fans Over Until Season 2 In January 2019

Executive producer Alex Kurtzman announced that there will be 4 mini-episodes of 10-15 minutes while we wait for Season 2 in early 2019. They know fans are eager to get more Trek content. He spoke of the long turnaround for the visual effects and post production (8 months) as one of the reasons why Season 2 won’t be until January and not this Fall. So instead this fall we’ll get a new Short Trek each month leading up to the January 2019 premiere of Season 2. Kurtzman says “there’s a lot of surprises coming up.”

The Hollywood Reporter got a few more details than the panel initially provided. Rainn Wilson will return as Harry Mudd, he will also direct his episode. Aldis Hodge (Leverage) will play a new character named Craft, who finds himself the only human on board a deserted ship. Another will explore Saru’s backstory as the first Kelpien to join Starfleet, and the final episode will be about Tilly’s journey aboard the USS Discovery and her friendship with an unlikely partner.

Harry Mudd will return…

Season 2 “guaranteed” to answer canon questions

One of the hottest topics about Star Trek: Discovery has been how it fits within the canon of Star Trek. The producers have said many times it is part of the prime timeline and at SDCC on Friday, Kurtzman elaborated on how the second season is guaranteed to answer questions about the fit with canon:

We know we owe you a lot of answers how Discovery connects to canon, and you will get a lot of those answers this season. Guaranteed. You’re just not going to get them the way you expect them. A lot of what the first season was about was about the crew finding each other, and coming together, and forming the foundation of a family. Now they really are a family. And so much of what’s will happen over the course of season 2 is going to test them constantly. And they’re even going to have to make choices between their real family and their starship family. So a lot of family pain is going to be a major part of it. As you may have seen in the trailer, there are these mysterious signals that appear. The signals are very significant, and form a lot of the investigative trail of why the Enterprise is here, and where they’re heading. And it will lead to a lot of surprises.

Spock confirmed

The introduction of the USS Enterprise and Captain Pike has raised the obvious question about how Discovery will deal with Spock. one of the most important characters in the franchise. Spock’s name was mentioned twice in the trailer which kicked off the panel (and is now available online), however it appears he isn’t on board the USS Enterprise, but he is somehow linked with the mystery that brought Pike on board.

While we haven’t seen him yet, Kurtzman confirmed that will change, saying “Yes, you will be seeing Spock this season.” Of course, that in-and-of-itself doesn’t mean we’ll see an adult Spock. We know a young Spock will appear in flashbacks thanks to Jonathan Frakes dropping a tease a few months ago.

Spock’s empty quarters in new season 2 trailer

Number One confirmed, to be played by Rebecca Romijn

One of the next questions that pops to people’s minds is, if we Pike, will see his first officer, known as Number One, who was originally played by Majel Barrett.

Anson Mount, the new captain Pike, teased the crowd by saying:

We’re going to get to meet the original Number One, originally played by Majel Barett Roddenberry, she was also the voice of the computer on the ship, our new Number One, I can’t tell you who it is, but her initials are, Rebecca Romijn.

Romijn was actually at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, but she was doing press for the DC animated film The Death of Superman.

Rebecca Romijn at Death of Superman event on Friday at SDCC (Getty)

While she couldn’t attend the panel, Romijn sent out a tweet talking about how she was honored to be playing Number One. The tweet shows her hands holding a USS Enterprise badge, and it appears she is in costume in a USS Enterprise command gold uniform.

L’Rell is dealing with the Klingon patriarchy

L’Rell actress Mary Chieffo spoke about where L’Rell is in Season 2:

She is trying to be the best chancellor she can be of this very patriarchal Klingon Empire. And there are male Klingons who maybe aren’t so happy with that, but she’s doing her best to uphold T’Kuvma’s mission. And with that also comes a fun new Chancellor esthetic which I’m a huge fan of. I hope you guys will be too. And I think there’s a lot of L’Rell that was shrouded in mystery in the first season, because the audience didn’t know so much of what my plan was … I’m really excited for the fans to be able to see more of her side of the story, and some of the secrets she’s been harboring for everyone including Tyler, and I think there are a lot to be learned from this.

Culmets is back, but how?

As we’ve heard a few times recently, we know Culber isn’t totally gone from Stamets’ life. We just don’t know in what way yet. But Wilson Cruz excitedly confirmed for the room:

I’ll be back, I won’t be telling you how. But you know, we’re still reveling in the fact that this gay love has not only saved the world, but the universe. All of the universes. So you’re welcome.

Wilson Cruz and Anthony Rapp at SDCC 2018 (Photo: Terry Snyder)

Tilly’s ambition faces challenges

Mary Wiseman was asked about the eager newly commissioned ensign Tilly’s plan to get to command a starship.

She’s going to keep trying to be a captain, keep working toward that goal, and she’s gonna not do great for a while… She’s gonna face obstacles and you know, not do a great job…

Saru goes home

Doug Jones spoke about playing Saru:

In the 30 some years of my career, wearing all kinds of different prosthetic makeups, and all sorts of characters and creatures from fantasyland to animal-land, and whatever else, this has been a true joy for me because I get to be a Kelpien, which has never been seen in a Star Trek universe before, and I get to develop this species from the ground up. So, it’s been a true joy for me.

Paying a visit to Saru’s homeworld:

We also get to visit Saru’s home planet this year. Season 1 set him up as the prey species; who is the predator? All these questions might come into play when we go to my home planet.

Doug Jones mugs for the audience (Photo: Terry Snyder)

Mount is one of us

Anson Mount who is new to the cast this season proclaimed his love for Star Trek: The Original Series.

I grew up with it in syndication. By the time I was ten I’d seen every episode of Star Trek. And that was one of our go-to make believe games, playing Star Trek. And so, every day, every day, we’re going to do episode 6, and I still, every day I walk on that set, and I have to pinch myself. It is so surreal to be on Star Trek. Me? Wow.

He also said he enjoyed working with Rebecca Romijn as his Number One. He also spoke about meeting Jeffrey Hunter’s son Chris who was in attendance of the panel. Chris said that he thinks he father would have approved of the casting.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/20/sdcc18-star-trek-discovery-panel-talks-captain-pike-canon-connections-sarus-homeworld-and-more/feed/32SDCC18: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 2 First Look Teaser And Images Releasedhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/20/sdcc18-star-trek-discovery-season-2-first-look-teaser-and-images-released/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/20/sdcc18-star-trek-discovery-season-2-first-look-teaser-and-images-released/#commentsFri, 20 Jul 2018 21:57:39 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56379Now that the Star Trek: Discovery panel has ended, CBS has released the teaser they showed to the lucky folks in Hall H a few minutes ago. We finally get a proper look at Anson Mount as Captain Pike.

NOTE: The trailer released by CBS is region locked to USA-only. As CBS’ parters for other regions release their copies we’ll update the article.

More Discovery to come

There is a press event following the big Hall H panel that TrekMovie will be attending, so check back later for a comprehensive overview of the panel and the follow up press event.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/20/sdcc18-star-trek-discovery-season-2-first-look-teaser-and-images-released/feed/418SDCC18: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Mini-Episodes, Spock and Number One Confirmed for Season 2https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/20/breaking-star-trek-discovery-mini-episodes-and-spock-confirmed-for-season-2/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/20/breaking-star-trek-discovery-mini-episodes-and-spock-confirmed-for-season-2/#commentsFri, 20 Jul 2018 21:03:53 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56464The panel for Star Trek: Discovery is going on right now in Hall H in San Diego. Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman has dropped some exciting news on the crowd today. The panel started with a trailer, which will be released online later this afternoon, check back shortly for our article.

Discovery universe mini-episodes

“Short Treks” are mini-episodes to help tide fans over until Season 2.

Called Star Trek: Short Treks, each of the four-episode series will run between 10-15 minutes and feature deeper storytelling surrounding the characters and themes from Discovery and the expanding Star Trek universe. The series will launch in the fall and roll out monthly, helping to keep awareness of Discovery high before its return in January 2019.

More about the 4 episodes:

Rainn Wilson will return to reprise his role as Harry Mudd in a short he will direct. Aldis Hodge (Hidden Figures, Showtime’s upcoming City on a Hill) will star in another installment as Craft, a man who finds himself the only human on board a deserted ship. Additional episodes will explore Saru’s (Doug Jones) backstory as the first Kelpien to join Starfleet and Tilly’s (Mary Wiseman) journey aboard the USS Discovery and her friendship with an unlikely partner.

Kurtzman says S2 will air early 2019 but in December we will get 4 standalone short films. One explores Saru’s backstory. #StarTrekDiscovery#SDCC

Alex Kurtzman reveals there will be 4 short cuts coming later this year called Short Treks. Each mini-episode will be 10-15 minutes long & will feature Tilly, Saru & Harry Mudd. #StarTrekDiscovery#SDCC2018

Spock on Discovery

As we’ve been guessing for a while now, it looks like Spock will be coming to Discovery. We’re not sure if this refers to an adult Spock, or the young Spock that will appear in flashbacks that Jonathan Frakes confirmed a few months ago.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/20/breaking-star-trek-discovery-mini-episodes-and-spock-confirmed-for-season-2/feed/35SDCC18: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Panel Live Twitter Feedhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/20/sdcc18-star-trek-discovery-panel-live-twitter-feed/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/20/sdcc18-star-trek-discovery-panel-live-twitter-feed/#commentsFri, 20 Jul 2018 20:00:17 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56377Join us on Twitter @trekmovie or you can keep this article open, it has a live feed (refreshes every couple of mins) of our Twitter stream.

Live coverage from TrekMovie.com coming up

The panel starts at 1:30 pm (Pacific). TrekMovie’s team is on the scene and will be reporting live, along with follow-up reports here at TrekMovie.com. We will have all the Hall H news, any new images or video releases as well as coverage of the press event later in the day, so stay tuned to this site all day and all night and all weekend for your Star Trek San Diego Comic-Con coverage.

Stay tuned for more Star Trek merchandise and more news from San Diego Comic-Con, and a bit of The Orville news too.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/20/sdcc18-watch-star-trek-discovery-cast-deliver-donuts-to-fans-waiting-in-hall-h-line/feed/25Zachary Quinto Talks R-Rated Tarantino Star Trek And How It Might Be His Last Time As Spockhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/20/zachary-quinto-talks-r-rated-tarantino-star-trek-and-how-it-might-be-his-last-time-as-spock/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/20/zachary-quinto-talks-r-rated-tarantino-star-trek-and-how-it-might-be-his-last-time-as-spock/#commentsFri, 20 Jul 2018 13:39:38 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56448While promoting tonight’s premiere of his In Search Of reboot, Star Trek star Zachary Quinto again talked about upcoming Star Trek movie projects.

Excited for R-rated Tarantino Trek

Talking to USA Today, Quinto was asked what he knew about the two Star Trek films in development, and specifically about the one pitched by, and potentially directed by, Quentin Tarantino. The actor again indicated that he would be involved in the Tarantino project and seems to have confirmed reports that it would be R-rated, saying:

We’re waiting on specifics. I’m thrilled that we might have the opportunity to work with him and see what he would do with us in this universe. It’s going to be an R-rated version of “Star Trek,” which would be the first (in) the movies, and that’s exciting. I’ve been a fan of his for years, and I’m really inspired by his originality. Take that originality and mix it with this world full of incredible ideology and colorful characters, and the result could be pretty thrilling.

Zachary Quinto as Spock in Star Trek Into Darkness

Tarantino Trek might be Quinto’s last time as Spock

When asked by USA Today how long he sees himself playing the role of Spock, the actor implied he may retire his ears after his fifth film, saying:

I don’t know. I’m really honored to be carrying the mantle of this character, so as long as we’re having fun and the stories feel interesting, I’m open to it. If we make a fourth one and then we do a film with Quentin, that feels like an incredibly complete experience.

Zachary Quinto plays Spock in Star Trek Beyond

Simon Pegg meets with Star Trek 4 director

The more imminent of the two Trek projects is Star Trek 4, the follow-up to Star Trek Beyond. The film does not yet have a release date, but it picked up director S.J. Clarkson in April and more recently was reported to be already starting the process of casting some new roles.

Recently Quinto revealed he has already met with Clarkson about the project and last week the director was spotted in London with Scotty actor Simon Pegg, together at the UK premiere of Mission: Impossible – Fallout. The tweet from Pegg’s official Twitter account included the message “talking about the future…” with the inclusion of a Vulcan salute emoji to emphasize the Trek point.

Quinto’s In Search Of premieres tonight

The History channel has rebooted the paranormal investigation series In Search Of, which is hosted by Zachary Quinto, again stepping into the shoes of the late Leonard Nimoy. The new show premieres tonight, July 20th, at 10 pm. For more, visit the official site and check out the preview below.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/20/zachary-quinto-talks-r-rated-tarantino-star-trek-and-how-it-might-be-his-last-time-as-spock/feed/66SDCC18: Mirror Universe Comes To Comic-Con At ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Gallery Displayhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/19/sdcc18-mirror-universe-comes-to-comic-con-at-star-trek-discovery-gallery-display/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/19/sdcc18-mirror-universe-comes-to-comic-con-at-star-trek-discovery-gallery-display/#commentsFri, 20 Jul 2018 06:46:51 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56385As part of their promotion for Star Trek: Discovery at San Diego Comic-Con, CBS has set up a showing of costumes, props and more at the Wolf Gallery. The theme of this year’s show was the Mirror Universe with genuine screen-used items from the latter half of the first season of Discovery, when they took a detour into the MU. We have gathered together photos from the gallery to help you visit the Terran Empire’s invasion of San Diego.

Stay tuned for more Star Trek merchandise and more news from San Diego Comic-Con, and a bit of The Orville news too.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/19/sdcc18-mirror-universe-comes-to-comic-con-at-star-trek-discovery-gallery-display/feed/10SDCC18: QMx Previews ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Figure And Phaser, And Morehttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/19/sdcc18-qmx-previews-star-trek-discovery-figure-and-phaser-and-more/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/19/sdcc18-qmx-previews-star-trek-discovery-figure-and-phaser-and-more/#commentsThu, 19 Jul 2018 21:09:52 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56372QMx is well known for their excellent line of figures, badges, and prop replicas. Their entire breadth of current Star Trek wares was on display at Comic-Con. Mixed in where a few new goodies.

The wide array of QMx 1:6 scale figures

Discovery prototypes

First up we have two prototypes. QMx made it clear that these are prototypes only. They were produced to gauge consumer interest, so there is no release date or price set.

Captain Georgiou

QMx showed off a prototype of a 1:6 scale Captain Georgiou.

Captain Georgiou 1:6 figure

Discovery phaser pistol

QMx showed off a prototype phaser pistol, this is a basic replica without lights and sound. If released, it would cost about the same as the standard QMx Kelvin-universe phasers ($59.95). QMx are also concerned that the phaser may have the same issues with regulations of replica weapons, the orange tip requirement, that have indefinitely delayed the McFarlane Discovery phaser.

Prototype Discovery phaser

Star Trek Beyond phaser

The Star Trek Beyond phaser variant was at the QMx booth last year as well. It is a basic replica without lights and sound. Like the Discovery prototypes above, there is no price and no release date, it’s on display to gauge consumer interest. If released it would cost about the same standard QMx Kelvin-universe phasers ($59.95) that were previously released.

Prototype Beyond phaser

Coming soon to retail shelves

On display were also a few new products that are finalized and will be made available soon.

Master Series Worf

This new Worf figure features him in the uniform first introduced in First Contact and used in later seasons of DS9.

It will be in next the Star Trek Mission Crate by Loot Crate and then made available separately sometime afterward for an SRP of $24.95

Worf coming soon to Mission Crate

TOS Scotty

QMx confirmed that the next 1:6 figure to be released will be Scotty. A Scotty prototype was shown off earlier this year at ToyFaire. He’s finally ready to beam aboard later this year. Pricing will be in line with the other 1:6 TOS figures.

The Scotty 1:6 figure is next for release.

TrekMovie at SDCC

SDCC is just getting started. We have more news from preview night coming, plus coverage of all the exciting Star Trek-related events and panels.

Saru SDCC exclusive bust

First up is a bust of Discovery’s first officer, Saru. Hand-cast and hand-painted, the 1/6 scale bust is a limited edition, hand-numbered Comic Con exclusive, and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

New reveal: Burnham and Torchbearer statues

Next are the Michael Burnham and Torchbearer statues, which depict the battle seen in Discovery‘s premiere. They are cast with resin and built to 1/4 scale. No word yet on price, but they should be available in early 2019. The impressively detailed Torchbearer was also shown at last year’s Comic-Con.

New reveal: Klingon torchbearer knife replica

A resin-cast, full-sized replica of the Torchbearer’s boot knife (which can also be seen on the statue above) will be arriving in 2019. Price TBD.

New reveal: Discovery bookends

There are also Federation/Klingon bookends, which are cast from poly resin and will also be coming in early 2019. Pricing hasn’t been locked in yet, but they’re likely to be $59.99-$64.99 each.

TrekMovie at SDCC

SDCC is just getting started. We have more news from preview night coming, plus coverage of all the exciting Star Trek-related events and panels.

Stay tuned for more Star Trek merchandise and more news from San Diego Comic-Con, and a bit of The Orville news too.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/19/sdcc18-gentle-giant-showcases-saru-bust-burnham-torchbearer-statues-and-more/feed/9Ten-Forward Vodka Launches, Inspired By ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/19/ten-forward-vodka-launches-inspired-by-star-trek-the-next-generation/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/19/ten-forward-vodka-launches-inspired-by-star-trek-the-next-generation/#commentsThu, 19 Jul 2018 15:43:21 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56313Following on from the announcement of the James T. Kirk bourbon whiskey a few weeks ago, Silver Screen Bottling used the opening of Comic-Con to reveal their second entry in their new line of Star Trek-themed spirits.

This time they are going to Star Trek: The Next Generation with Ten-Forward Vodka, inspired by the U.S.S. Enterprise-D’s onboard lounge. It is described as something for “discerning vodka drinkers to go where no man has gone before.” And it will spend some time in space: a batch is being sent into the mesosphere in a high-altitude balloon. When it returns, it will be blended in with the rest of the stock–so every bottle will contain vodka from space.

According to Silver Screen, the Ten-Forward Vodka is “made from choice American Grain, carefully distilled 6 times, and delivered via terrestrial and interstellar transport for the enjoyment of discerning adventurers on planet Earth, aboard the Starship Enterprise-D, and across the galaxy.” The design on the bottle comes from legendary Star Trek designer Mke Okuda.

The Star Trek Vodka vodka retails for $29.99 and will be available later this year and can be ordered at TenForwardVodka.com,

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/19/ten-forward-vodka-launches-inspired-by-star-trek-the-next-generation/feed/19SDCC18: Anovos Shows Off $9000 ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ USS Enterprise Replica And Morehttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/19/sdcc18-anovos-shows-off-9000-star-trek-discovery-uss-enterprise-replica-and-more/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/19/sdcc18-anovos-shows-off-9000-star-trek-discovery-uss-enterprise-replica-and-more/#commentsThu, 19 Jul 2018 13:52:58 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56283The Anovos booth at San Diego Comic-Con was dominated by much of their Star Trek offerings of high-end replica uniforms, props and ships. Most of what was on display had been revealed before, but the surprise was the newly revealed third entry in their line of studio artisan replica ships from Star Trek: Discovery.

Discovery USS Enterprise

Earlier this year Anovos started selling studio-scale filming miniature replica ships from Star Trek: Discovery, starting with the USS Discovery and the USS Shenzhou. At Comic-Con they revealed the USS Enterprise from Discovery.

Like the previous ships, the USS Enterprise replicas will be built by hand in Anovos’ Florida studio. They are built with aluminum and have steel infrastructures with rapid-prototype resin.

The ships have a complete set of lights and come with what Anovos calls ‘cutaway features.’ In the case, you can actually remove the Bussard Collector domes to see the inner workings and blade in the Enterprise.

Anovos is taking pre-orders now for the USS Enterprise, with each replica costing $9000.

To order, or if you simply want to look at some nicely detailed images, head on over to the Anovos website.

UPDATE: Anovos has also released a video showing off the USS Enterprise.

More from Anovos

Here are more photos of some of theStar Trek items on display at the Anovos booth at SDCC.

TrekMovie at SDCC

SDCC is just getting started. We have more news from preview night coming, plus coverage of all the exciting Star Trek-related events and panels.

Stay tuned for more Star Trek merchandise and more news from San Diego Comic-Con, and a bit of The Orville news too.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/19/sdcc18-anovos-shows-off-9000-star-trek-discovery-uss-enterprise-replica-and-more/feed/54SDCC18: Diamond Select Unveils Enterprise C Ship, Kelvin Kirk And Spock ‘Star Trek’ Figureshttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/19/sdcc18-diamond-select-reveals-enterprise-c-ship-kelvin-kirk-and-spock-star-trek-figures/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/19/sdcc18-diamond-select-reveals-enterprise-c-ship-kelvin-kirk-and-spock-star-trek-figures/#commentsThu, 19 Jul 2018 12:46:56 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56269We were hoping that Diamond Select Toys would have some news at San Diego Comic-Con and they delivered, showing off both previously and newly announced Star Trek items on preview night. We have a full breakdown of what was going on at their booth and what they had to say about their future with Star Trek.

Newly announced: USS Enterprise-C ship

A surprise for Comic-Con was the revelation of a USS Enterprise-C ship, from Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” Diamond had cryptically mentioned a new Star Trek ship was in development, but this was the first time it was revealed.

The Enterprise-C is targeted for release in 2019. It will come with electronics for lights and sounds, and will retail for $69.99.

Newly announced: Kelvin Kirk and Spock

Diamond Select also revealed that for the first time they will be making toys for the Kelvin timeline Star Trek movies. Their first two offerings will be 7-inch Captain Kirk and Commander Spock figures.

The design of the figures is based on the costumes from the uniforms used in Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness. Each figure comes with a number of accessories including phaser and phaser rifle, with different colored firing attachments. They are priced at $24.99 each and are expected to be released by the end of 2018.

First time reveal: Borg figure

Diamond Select had previously announced they were working on a Borg figure, but revealed it for the first time at San Diego Comic-Con 2018.

The 7-inch figure comes with interchangeable arms, head, and eyepiece. The Borg figure is expected to be available in early 2019 and is priced at $24.99.

TNG phaser and USS Reliant are still coming

One thing not on display was the previously announced Star Trek: The Next Generation phaser, which was first revealed at Toy Fair a few years ago. A rep for DST said it is still in the works with new features being added. They are hoping it will be released in 2019.

We were also hoping to see the reveal of the previously announced USS Reliant ship toy. A spokesperson for Diamond Select said the Reliant ship toy is still being finalized at the factory and it is now expected to be released after the USS Enterprise-C.

TrekMovie at SDCC

SDCC is just getting started. We have more news from preview night coming, plus coverage of all the exciting Star Trek-related events and panels.

Stay tune for more Star Trek merchandise and more news from San Diego Comic-Con, and a bit of The Orville news too.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/19/sdcc18-diamond-select-reveals-enterprise-c-ship-kelvin-kirk-and-spock-star-trek-figures/feed/29SDCC18: First Wave Of 2018 Star Trek Mego Figures Revealedhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/18/sddc18-first-wave-of-2018-star-trek-mego-figures-revealed/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/18/sddc18-first-wave-of-2018-star-trek-mego-figures-revealed/#commentsThu, 19 Jul 2018 04:45:06 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56244Last week Mego Toys announced their line of retro and new figures coming in 2018, exclusively at Target. Today at San Diego Comic-Con, they revealed the first wave due in stores later this year.

The first wave includes four 8-inch Star Trek figures, with two being new figures which were not part of the original line from the 70s, along with a new box set with two variants of figures released in the 70s.

Sulu

A longtime oversight will be addressed, as Sulu was not part of the original 1970’s Mego line. The figure comes equipped with a Mego-style (i.e. blue) phaser, communicator, and tricorder. The 8-inch cloth figure is priced at $19.99.

They weren’t taking the figures out of the packaging at SDCC, but Mego provided us with some images of the figures without their boxes.

Chekov

Pavel Chekov will also be making his Mego debut, and comes with a phaser, communicator, and tricorder. The figure is also priced at $19.99.

Here is official pic of Chekov figure.

Mirror Universe box set

Mego is also taking us to the land of agonizers and goatees. The Mirror Universe box set will feature MU versions of Kirk and Spock based on the classic episode “Mirror, Mirror”. Both come equipped with phaser, communicator, and a dagger. This two-pack of 8-inch figures is priced at $29.99.

And here is what Kirk and Spock look like outside the box.

The Gorn and Romulan Commander

Teased on the back of the packaging but not part of the first wave of figures, and not shown at SDCC, are the expected upcoming figures of the Gorn and the Romulan Commander played by Mark Lenard in the classic TOS episode “Balance of Terror.”

Coming this summer

The new line of Mego figures will be sold exclusively at Target stores. The first wave will be released in August. A second wave of figures are expected later in 2018, with a third wave to follow.

Stay tune for more Star Trek merchandise and more news from San Diego Comic-Con, and a bit of The Orville news too.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/18/sddc18-first-wave-of-2018-star-trek-mego-figures-revealed/feed/22Star Trek Las Vegas: Discounted Tickets Available, Party With The DS9 Crew, And Morehttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/18/star-trek-las-vegas-discounted-tickets-available-party-with-the-ds9-crew-and-more/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/18/star-trek-las-vegas-discounted-tickets-available-party-with-the-ds9-crew-and-more/#commentsThu, 19 Jul 2018 01:23:07 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56242The Star Trek Las Vegas convention is just two weeks away and details are being finalized. As we’ve reported before, Creation keeps adding more guests and events, with well over 100 guests now. Here’s a round up of STLV events and deals added this week.

Discounted tickets now available

Now that the convention is close, Creation has started to release discounted tickets through their partners. General admission individual days are now in the $30-45 range (depends on day), and a full weekend general admission is going for about $175.

Discount ticket retailer Goldstar Events is offering a substantial 50% discount – not including service fees – for Weekend Passes (i.e. 5-day passes), as well as individual days. You can learn more by clicking here.

Groupon is also offering the same tickets with a 43% markdown, but without the service fees, essentially offering the same deal as Goldstar. Mosey on over to have a look.

Gary Lockwood and Martha Hackett are among the latest additions to STLV2018

Party with the DS9 crew

There are several special panels and events planned for DS9’s 25th anniversary, including the recently announced “Far Beyond The Stars” After-Party Mixer on Sunday evening. You’ll be able to hobnob with Nana Visitor, Rene Auberjonois, Armin Shimerman, Aron Eisenberg, Casey Biggs, Cirroc Lofton, Jeffrey Combs, Terry Farrell and Max Grodénchik. The event will take place Sunday night, August 5th, at Quark’s Bar and will cost $189 per person. For more information, click here.

STLV Tips and Tricks

Attending STLV can be an expensive proposition, but we’ve got some ways to make it a bit easier on the wallet. Our resident STLV expert Christine Rideout joined the Shuttle Pod crew recently to tell us about all the amazing ways she’s found to get the most bang for your buck in Vegas. These tips can really help save a bundle. Have a listen!

More to come!

TrekMovie will be out in force for STLV, so check back often during the convention to get all the latest news.

This review is based on several hours of play in the “Victory is Life” expansion, and represents my first impressions of the new material.

Jumping in with a new faction

As the fourth major expansion for the game, “Victory is Life” allows players to create a Captain (or “First”) in the brand-new playable Jem’Hadar faction. A Jem’Hadar Captain starts the game at Level 60 – which used to be the game’s level cap. It was fun to be able to customize my Jem’Hadar Captain – creating new characters is one of my favorite parts of the game, and the Jem’Hadar faction gives you all sorts of new options. Unfortunately, given the limited genetic range of the Jem’Hadar – creating one is reminscent of the old adage about the Ford Model T, you can have any Jem’Hadar captain you want, as long as he’s male and sort of grey.

My customized character

Once your character is created, you plunge right in to the action with a set of exclusive Jem’Hadar faction episodes that introduce you to the key NPC characters – Odo, Weyoun, some assorted Jem’Hadar and other Vorta overseers – and the situation of the Dominion in the 2410’s. Those episodes train you to use the game’s controls, both on the ground and in space, and you obtain both your command rank and your first ship – a Jem’Hadar fighter with some fairly hefty firepower.

Once those episodes are completed, your character joins the “Victory is Life” story at the point where a Captain from another faction would begin it – with a mission to Deep Space Nine on the eve of a galactic conference to deal with the threat of the Hur’q. A race that in televised Trek is only referred to in the distant past, as the spacefaring race that conquered the pre-spaceflight Klingons, only to be overthrown and defeated by their former slaves. In STO continuity, the Hur’q are again active in both the Alpha Quadrant and the Gamma Quadrant, and are eating up Dominion territory at an alarming rate, as well as launching attacks on Ferenginar, Cardassia Prime, and other key Alpha Quadrant locations. Odo, now the leader of the Dominion, has come to DS9 to put together an alliance of Alpha and Gamma Quadrant powers to fight the Hur’q, to stave off annihilation or subjugation of all of the races of the galaxy under Hur’q rule.

Odo leads the meeting of the major quadrant powers

It feels like a homecoming

The most incredible part of the expansion so far for me is the retooled DS9 map. Walking the Promenade was a wonderful experience, visiting the various locations that I knew from my favorite Trek show. The new STO DS9 is so far superior to the one they had before that the difference is like night and day. This environment is built to exacting standards, according to the original set designs for the show, and the attention to detail is staggering. Until James Cawley becomes a billionaire and builds a 1:1 scale Deep Space Nine set in the Adirondacks, STO’s DS9 will be the gold standard for an immersive tour of the station on the edge of the Final Frontier. I loved Quark’s bar (Morn!) and the security office. I geeked out while checking out Odo’s holding cells. And I loved the baseball team pennants from around the Federation hanging on the second level of the Promenade. The whole place is breathtaking, and all to scale.

Checking out the baseball pennants

DS9’s exterior has been rebuilt, as well, by master modeler Tobias Richter, and it’s similarly gorgeous. I loved flying my Jem’Hadar bug ship around the stations pylons, locked in deadly space battle with the Hur’q.

Battling outside the newly revamped DS9 model

Getting the band back together, almost

Also a lot of fun were the multitude of familiar voices that now populate Deep Space Nine and its scenarios. From Aron Eisenberg’s Captain Nog, who greets you at the start of the expansion and walks you through your time on the station, to Rene Aberjoinois’ Odo, who is your character’s leader and god, everyone sounds exactly right, if a bit older than you remembered. In the course of your first assignment, you will meet Kai Kira Nerys, Grand Nagus Rom and his wife Leeta, Quark, Garak, Dr. Julian Bashir, General Martok, Weyoun, and others, all voiced by the actors who made the characters great. I particularly liked the game model of Garak (“his eyes! His eyes!”) which captures the plain, simple character perfectly.

The cast of “Victory is Life”

It made it a bit disappointing one episode later when you discover Kai Opaka, still brokering peace between the Ennis and Nolennis, and she is not voiced by Camille Saviola. I guess you can’t have everything – the character model is spot on – and I could have sworn that when you meet Golin Shel-la, leader of the Ennis, he is voiced by Jonathan Banks, who played him on DS9. If not, whoever took on the role gets the voice exactly right.

Kai Opaka returns

An impressive first impression

What makes this expansion great is that it brings you back into the world and characters that made Deep Space Nine the best Trek there is, in my humble opinion. You meet characters you loved, and return to situations that you cared about.

The frustrations are few, and probably stem from the nature of the game. Missions fit the STO mold: you walk around and talk to specific characters, you have a ground fight, you fiddle with a few control panels, then you go into space and have a space fight, having first to hit a few waypoints. Then you go back to the ground. Lather, rinse, repeat. And in each battle, you die a few times, respawn, and eventually triumph. It can get a bit repetitive.

But along the way, through dialogue and cutscenes, the story of Deep Space Nine, and of the Prime Star Trek universe, is extended and moves forward. New alliances are made. Old alliances shift. The story – and the human adventure – continues.

Morn is back in Victory is Life

Available now for PC, consoles next week

Star Trek Online is free to play, with some in app purchases. The Victory is Life expansion was released for PC in June and comes out for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on July 24th. For more information, visit the official site.

Full disclosure: Cryptic Studios provided a journalist’s kit of in-game resources to TrekMovie.com to assist in the writing of this article.

The genesis of the Reginald Barclay-lead “Terra Incognita” can be traced back to last year’s epic six-part “Mirror Broken” series. That first issue (Free Comic Book Day’s #0), much like this one, starts from Barclay’s perspective and chronicles his rise from lowly Stargazer engineer to Chief Security Officer. If you haven’t already, I urge you to check it out. Although it’s not totally necessary, it’s a good primer and it’s free. You can get a digital copy directly from IDW or Amazon.

Part two of IDW’s unofficial “TNG Mirror Trilogy” was May’s 5-part “Through the Mirror,” with the two crews coming face-to-face for the first time ever. After having stolen the I.S.S. Enterprise-D, the Mirror crew figure out a way to cross over into the Prime universe in an effort to steal this one. Ultimately, the Mirror counterparts were no match for the Prime crew, and were sent back to the Mirror Universe. But not all of them went back…

In the afterward of Mirror Broken #0, writers Scott and David Tipton said that their approach to the TNG mirror universe was to introduce a low-level, yet familiar crewman to the readers and follow his ascent through assassination. Enter Reginald Barclay.

Terra Incognita cover by Tony Shasteen

The story picks up immediately after the events of “Through the Mirror,” where a stowaway Mirror Barclay has successfully infiltrated the U.S.S. Enterprise-D, then tied up and replaced his doppleganger. What’s interesting about this story is that he is entirely self-motivated and not under the orders of Picard or the Terran Empire. He just wants a fresh start and to see what he “can make of himself in this new universe full of untapped potential.” What can a confident Barclay do in our universe? We’re about to find out.

The first thing I noticed is that since this is taking place in our universe (and during TNG’s 4th season), there’s not a ton of action going on. This is a departure from the first two series and, quite frankly, very much welcomed. The pace has slowed down, letting the story breathe and gives us a chance to spend time with the characters we love. This is particularly evident to Mirror Barclay when he learns of his first assignment – feeding Spot.

Meanwhile, the Enterprise has been ordered to assist the repairs of the failed warp drive of the U.S.S. Hood. Riker and La Forge’s former captain Desoto is delivering a team of Vulcan ambassadors to peace talks between the Cardassians and the Federation. Since the battle of Wolf 359 happened fairly recently in this timeline, most of the fleet has been wiped out, and it’s imperative that every available ship be at full strength, especially going into negotiations with the Cardassians.

There’s some banter between Wesley and Data about Mirror Data. The young ensign asks Data if he’d ever thought of “upgrading his abilities” (Mirror Data consistently upgraded himself with Borg implants). Troi, Riker, and Dr. Crusher enjoy each other’s company at Ten Forward when they notice a certain “holodeck addict” enter the room. Mirror Barclay then orders a whiskey from Guinan and let’s just say that her El-Aurian “intuition” kicks in.

Over on the U.S.S. Hood, La Forge, Mirror Barclay and Ensign Gomez are greeted by Captain Desoto, who introduces them to his inept chief engineer, Mora. Because Mirror Barclay is looking at the warp core problem from a different perspective, he knows exactly how to fix it, but since La Forge thinks Reg is a “simpering failure,” he doesn’t listen to him. This leads into one of my favorite Geordi tropes: the coolant leak!

The artwork is, of course, excellent as always. I’m just upset that Tony Shasteen is no longer drawing Trek. I hope it’s temporary, regardless, I will enjoy his work while we have it.

Again, what’s interesting about this story is that, at least so far, it doesn’t seem as if Mirror Barclay is here to cause trouble on behalf of the Terran Empire. Quite the contrary, at least in this first issue. He’s genuinely concerned about “his” reputation and actually tries to help. We’ll see if, in future issues, he lets loose his inner Terran and attempts an assassination to move up in rank. There’s also the question of what he does with Prime Reg. Would the Tiptons dare attempt to kill him off and imply that the Barclay we see post season four is actually the Mirror version? Surely not, but it’s fun to speculate. I’m looking forward to the rest of this series.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/18/barclay-sees-double-in-star-trek-the-next-generation-terra-incognita-1-review-preview/feed/4Orville Update: Jonathan Frakes Shooting Current Episode; ’24’ And ‘Gossip Girl’ Actors Guest Starhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/17/orville-update-jonathan-frakes-shooting-current-episode-24-and-gossip-girl-actors-guest-star/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/17/orville-update-jonathan-frakes-shooting-current-episode-24-and-gossip-girl-actors-guest-star/#commentsTue, 17 Jul 2018 19:00:06 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56203We have to wait until December 30th for the premiere of season two, but production continues on the show so it is time once again for quick pre-Comic-Con round of The Orville news. We’ll have more news this weekend from Comic-Con.

Frakes on set this week

As we expected, Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Jonathan Frakes is back to direct an episode of The Orville for season two. Show creator and executive producer Seth MacFarlane confirmed the news in a tweet a few days ago and executive producer (and former Star Trek: Enterprise writer/producer David Goodman) shared an image of Frakes on set yesterday.

More guest stars revealed

Jon Cassar, producer and director on The Orville, also directed a number of episodes of the hit Fox show 24. It looks like 24 alumnus Carlos Bernard will guest star during season 2 based on Cassar’s Instagram post from earlier this month.

Just yesterday Entertainment Weekly confirmed that Leighton Meester will guest star in an episode, this will reunite her with Gossip Girl cast member Jessica Szohr (who is playing Talla Keyali in season 2). According to EW:

Meester will share scenes with Szohr, who plays a new crew member aboard the U.S.S. Orville. Details about Meester’s role weren’t made available at this time.

Leighton Meester will guest star in season 2

The Orville at Comic-Con

Similar to what CBS is doing with Discovery, TVInsider reports that Fox has customized Orville pedicabs running around the Gaslamp district. Riders will get sneak peeks at exclusive content on the attached screen and a special U.S.S. Orville crew pin too.

A pedicab decked out in Orville gear.

There will also be a mini-poster available at the Fox booth (#4229) on the convention floor. Cast members will be signing the posters on Saturday from 5:15PM-6:15PM.

Mini-poster available on convention floor.

And of course, The Orville has a Comic-Con panel scheduled for Saturday afternoon (July 21 at 4:00PM), TrekMovie will be there to cover it. So check back Saturday evening for a full report!

What’s it like to edit The Orville?

Saturn makes the rounds

As we reported a couple of weeks ago, on the same night that Star Trek: Discovery won the Saturn Award for Best Streaming/New Media Series, The Orvillewon the Saturn Award for Best Sci-Fi Series (NOTE: Saturn rules have streaming services shows in a separate category). Following the win, the actual award did a tour around the set, visiting with cast and crew.

Shuttle pics of the week

Those USS Orville shuttles show up everywhere! Folks who work in or near the Fox lot routinely see them. Apparently this shuttle sat a little too long and people couldn’t resist writing on the windshield. Assistant editor on The Orville Hillary Wills noticed that a catchphrase from the Mel Brooks space comedy Spaceballs was written on the shuttle. Yogurt would be pleased.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/17/orville-update-jonathan-frakes-shooting-current-episode-24-and-gossip-girl-actors-guest-star/feed/71Your Exhaustive Guide To All Things Star Trek At San Diego Comic-Con 2018https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/17/your-exhaustive-guide-to-all-things-star-trek-at-san-diego-comic-con-2018/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/17/your-exhaustive-guide-to-all-things-star-trek-at-san-diego-comic-con-2018/#commentsTue, 17 Jul 2018 15:17:29 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56172San Diego Comic-Con kicks off on Thursday, and if you’ve come to make your schedule for this year’s con, you’ve come to the right place. For the highlights, checkout our article on the top 10 things we are hoping to see at Comic-Con. You may also want to check out our updated guide to Star Trek merchandise SDCC exclusives.

For an exhaustive list of all things Trek at SDCC, see our list of panels, events and booths below.

Star Trek-related panels

These are the panels that may be of most interest to Star Trek fans, with the official Star Trek panel in Hall H panel being the biggest. and all panels that are dedicated to talking Trek.

Thursday, July 19th

Panel Name

Time

Location

From The Bridge

10:00am-11:00am

Ballroom 20

Writer/director Spencer F. Lee brings together Nichelle Nichols, Rod Roddenberry, Kerry O’ Quinn, Tom DeSanto, Cecil Grimes, Douglas Tait, with Greg Grunberg as moderator to introduce their new film From the Bridge, a documentary on the evolution of science fiction, fantasy, comic books, and horror and the positive impacts that they have had on society as a whole. An exclusive first look at the feature film will be screened. The journey of a once-underground community of geeks has turned into a multi-billion-dollar explosion of fandom.

Roddenberry Presents

1:30pm-2:30pm

Room 24ABC

Roddenberry Entertainment, the name that brought you Star Trek, takes on genre entertainment in the current landscape and provides updates on many of their current projects. Film and television producers Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry and Trevor Roth reveal rarely seen Deep Space Nine treasures from the Roddenberry Archives in celebration of the series’ 25th anniversary and present a special screening of the company’s original film project, Instant, soon to be released to worldwide audiences. The panel will be joined by podcast hosts John Champion and Ken Ray, who will speak to the growing Roddenberry Podcast Network. Moderated by Clare Kramer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

The Science of Star Trek

5:45pm-6:45pm

Room 6DE

To go boldly where no one has gone before . . . but human eyes may have. If you believe that elsewhere in this galaxy, familiar worlds from Star Trek and sci-fi exist, this is the panel for you. Dr. Morgan Cable (NASA scientist for Europa Lander mission concept), Dr. Jessie Christiansen (NASA scientist at Exoplanet Archive/Caltech), Phil Plait (SYFY’s The Bad Astronomer and Bill Nye Saves the World), Hallie Lambert (writer for The Expanse), and André Bormanis (science consultant for Star Trek and The Orville) discuss the real science behind sci-fi’s most beloved universe.

Marty Abrams, CEO of Mego Corp., speaks about the return of the world’s greatest toy company and welcomes football legend Joe Namath to autograph a very limited number of new Joe Namath 14-inch action figures exclusively at Comic-Con. Marty will also be introducing a new line of 8-inch and 14-inch licensed action figures.

Star Trek: Discovery

1:30pm-2:30pm

Hall H

Over 50 years ago, the world was first introduced to what would quickly become a cultural phenomenon. Star Trek inspired developments in science and technology, broke social barriers, and transported viewers around the globe to new adventures and uncharted frontiers. Last fall, Star Trek: Discovery continued that tradition and followed the voyages of Starfleet aboard the U.S.S. Discovery. The cast and producers of this CBS All Access series look back on season 1 and find out where the crew is headed as it transports into its second season. Cast members scheduled to appear include Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Shazad Latif, Mary Wiseman, Anthony Rapp, Wilson Cruz, Mary Chieffo and Anson Mount alongside executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Heather Kadin. The panel will be moderated by series guest star Tig Notaro, who will appear as chief engineer Reno. Season 1 of Star Trek: Discovery is now streaming on CBS All Access.

Star Trek: A Fandom Divided?

5:00pm-6:00pm

Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library

Larry “Dr. Trek” Nemecek (The Trek Files, Trekland’s Portal 47) hosts a panel of Trek podcasters asking if age or even tech affinity is amplifying the controversies surrounding Star Trek: Discovery, or is it all much ado about nothing? Be a part of the Q&A and be recorded live for later podcasts’ use. Panelists will include John Champion (Mission Log: A Roddenberry Podcast, The Trek Files), Ken Ray (Mission Log: A Roddenberry Podcast MacOSken), Alison “Kenna” Pitt (Priority One), Kayla Iacovino (TrekMovie, ShuttlePod), and trek.fm’s Aaron Harvey (Saturday Morning Trek).

SYFY WIRE Fangrrls: Women Changing the Game

5:30pm-6:30pm

Room 6DE

The landscape of sci-fi has changed, and it’s never going back. Women aren’t just making some of the best, most groundbreaking work found in the genre today, they’re also redefining what it means to be a fan. Come geek out with trailblazers and breakthrough innovators Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek), Lights (pop musician), Amanda Conner (writer/artist of Harley Quinn), Sana Amanat (VP, content and character development at Marvel), Yetide Badaki (American Gods), Gail Simone (writer, Domino, Plastic Man), and moderator Cher Martinetti (Fangrrls’ managing editor) as they chat about their current obsessions and discuss how they’re blazing their own path and changing the industry.

Klingon Lifestyles

8:30pm-9:30pm

Room 5AB

Klingons, weapons, a new mission, and a live-action bat’leth sword battle. Come join the fun and mayhem for the 25th annual Klingon stage play. Watch the Stranglehold Klingons attempt to capture a new power source for the Empire. Fellow costumed Trek fans will celebrate this silver anniversary presentation with a group photo at the end. All alien races welcomed. If you love stage plays, come and support the only live-action Star Trek fan-based play to boldly go where no play has gone before.

Saturday, July 21st

Panel Name

Time

Location

IDW’s Big News Panel!

1:00pm-2:00pm

Room 25ABC

Be among the first to hear about IDW’s big announcements at SDCC! New titles! New creators! All the news that’s fit to print in one place. Plus, don’t miss out on an exclusive giveaway that you can only get here!

The Orville

4:00pm-4:50pm

Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

From Emmy Award-winning executive producer and creator Seth MacFarlane, The Orville is back for season 2! Some of the crew members of the U.S.S. Orville, including Seth MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, and Scott Grimes, along with executive producers David A. Goodman, Brannon Braga, and Jon Cassar, give an exclusive look at some of the new and exciting missions in the upcoming second season.

Sunday, July 22nd

Panel Name

Time

Location

‘Disco’ Was My First: Any Star Trek Newbies?

1:00pm-2:00pm

Grand 9, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

Larry “Dr. Trek” Nemecek (The Trek Files, Trekland’s Portal 47) makes his annual SDCC trip to hunt for any fans who have found Star Trek for the first time with Discovery -DFFs: “Discovery fans first”-but all are welcome as he leads a forum of audience opinions and feedback. How do fan voices react to Discovery -or are some even being heard at all? As usual there’ll be plenty of past, present, and future Star Trek too, using bloopers, in-jokes, and touchstone visuals from the Nemecek Trekland archives, plus a world premiere sneak peek from his The Con of Wrath documentary and a same-day-only bonus from his new Portal 47 fan experience.

Starship Smackdown XXV: The Final Countdown

2:45-4:45

Room 6A

A panel of experts determine who will win the highly coveted Smackdown title. Can the Starship Enterprise defeat an Imperial Star Destroyer? Will the Milano be assimilated by a Borg Cube? Will the Nostromo be taken over by Rathars? And will the Jefferson Starship disappear forever after Thanos snaps his fingers? Only if you’re lucky. This panel of sage spaceshipologists includes Ashley E. Miller (Red Sonja, Thor), Steven Melching (Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars Resistance), Kay Reindl (Freakish, Millennium), Christian Gossett (The Red Star), Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise), Daren Dochterman (Westworld, Real Steel), and your jocular host, the Mr. Rourke of the stars, Mark A. Altman (Tor Books’ upcoming So Say We All, The Fifty-Year Mission). Finish your weekend with the geekiest and most beloved panel of all-time in this or any other dimension, known or unknown. And ‘zis combat will be to the death.

Off-site Star Trek Events

Don’t miss out on the fun that happens outside of the convention center. No Comic-Con badges are required to enjoy these events!

Star Trek: Discovery Mirror Universe Gallery Takeover

This year, the main off-site event will be the official Mirror Universe takeover of the Michael J. Wolf Fine Arts Gallery. CBS is creating a “fully immersive Mirror Universe experience” at the Michael J. Wolf Fine Arts Gallery (363 Fifth Avenue, San Diego). The exhibit is free and features a photo opportunity with Emperor Georgiou’s Throne and showcases props and costumes from the series’ Terran Empire. The gallery will also house an official shop with Comic-Con exclusives.

Exhibit Hours:

Thursday 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Friday 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Saturday 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Sunday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

James T. Kirk Bourbon Tasting Event

Silver Screen Bottling recently announced an upcoming line of Star Trek-themed spirits, with the first release to be the James T. Kirk Signature Bourbon Whiskey. Silver Screen is holding a special tasting event at the Rustic Root (535 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101), which is about a quick 5-minute walk from San Diego Convention Center. The event will be held between 2pm & 6pm PST on Thursday, July 19. Note you must bring I.D. to show you are 21.

Free Star Trek: Discovery Pedicabs

Ride around downtown San Diego in style in one of the official Star Trek pedicabs. The rides are free, but we’re assuming tips are highly appreciated.

Other Panels That May Be Of Interest

There are also a few Star Trek-adjacent panels that may have just a bit of Trek influence, featuring Star Trek luminaries from behind or in front of the camera. Click the links to get more info.

TrekMovie.com has a team headed to San Diego to bring you all the news and highlights so stay tuned to the site as well as our Twitter and Instagram accounts for updates through the week.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/17/your-exhaustive-guide-to-all-things-star-trek-at-san-diego-comic-con-2018/feed/5Preview Of FanSets Star Trek Las Vegas Exclusive Pinshttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/16/preview-of-fansets-star-trek-las-vegas-exclusive-pins/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/16/preview-of-fansets-star-trek-las-vegas-exclusive-pins/#commentsTue, 17 Jul 2018 03:22:05 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56176The folks over at FanSets the collectable pin company that focuses on genre fandom shared with us the details of their planned exclusive pins for the big Star Trek Las Vegas (STLV) convention coming up in a few weeks. Many of these pins will be first available at STLV as limited runs, and if they sell out during the convention they won’t be made available to buy online.

Deep Space Nine 25th Anniversary Celebration

To celebrate the Las Vegas setting and the 25th anniversary of DS9, FanSets is making a poker chip style pin with Captain Sisko in his tuxedo from the episode “Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang.” It will be on sale during the convention for $15

Sisko STLV2018 Poker Chip Pin

The 2018 Deep Space Nine 25th Anniversary cast set is a 9-pin, framed piece which will be limited to 176 sets, the same number of episodes in the television series. It will sell for $225.

25th anniversary pin set limited to a run of 176 sets

Shatner Autograph Pin

FanSets will be kicking off their “Autograph Pin” line at STLV with a Captain Kirk pin hand-signed by William Shatner. Other pins signed by Star Trek personalities are planned for the future.

This 2″x4″ pin is numbered and limited to 100 pieces total. 16 pieces will be made available for each day of the convention. This very special pin will cost $150.

Limited edition William Shatner autograph pin

The Original Series on TV in Black & White

FanSets is making a black-and-white variant of their Original Series TV set pin (limited to only 100 pieces), to celebrate the fact that many fans first watched TOS on black-and-white television sets. The pin will go for $20.

TOS pin celebrates TOS in black and white

FanSets and Trek Geeks party and pin

FanSets will be hosting their second annual STLV convention party with the Trek Geeks podcast team on Friday, August 3 at The Otheroom bar inside the The Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace.

The party will run from 8PM – 11PM without cover charge, but all attendees must have an STLV wristband to gain entry. All party goers will receive a free gift “FanGeeks” party pin (pictured below). FanSets will also be doing various giveaways during the evening — including framed Star Trek pin sets, autographed Trek artwork from John Eaves, and signed books by Trek author Dayton Ward.

“FanGeeks” party pin

Launch of new pins for wide release

Vegas will also see the launch of four new generally available pins (not convention exclusive). They’ll be available at STLV first, and then made available online at the FanSets web store. The new assortment includes an LLAP on a Spock hand pin, an IDIC pin, an Odo mid-transition into his bucket, and a Discovery themed “We Are Starfleet” pin. Prices range from $5.95 to $9.95.

Also making its debut at STLV is a background/set holder for the Star Trek: Discovery pins. For pin collectors who already have the Star Trek: Discovery pins, this large Discovery backing card will be available for purchase: framed for $40.00, or loose for $22.00.

Discovery pin set card

The Star Trek Las Vegas convention is being held this year between Wednesday, August 1st and Sunday, August 5th at the Rio All-Suites Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/16/preview-of-fansets-star-trek-las-vegas-exclusive-pins/feed/5Amazon Prime Day Has Big Discounts On All Star Trek TV And Movie Collectionshttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/16/amazon-prime-day-has-big-discounts-on-all-star-trek-tv-and-movie-collections/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/16/amazon-prime-day-has-big-discounts-on-all-star-trek-tv-and-movie-collections/#commentsMon, 16 Jul 2018 19:23:43 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56191Amazon is discounting all the Star Trek movies and TV shows for Prime Day, which runs through to the evening of Tuesday July 17th. Some Star Trek sets are discounted up to 69% off. To take advantage of these or any Prime Day deals, you need to be a member of Amazon Prime.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/16/amazon-prime-day-has-big-discounts-on-all-star-trek-tv-and-movie-collections/feed/42Top 10 Star Trek Things We Want To See At San Diego Comic-Con 2018https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/15/top-10-star-trek-things-we-want-to-see-at-san-diego-comic-con-2018/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/15/top-10-star-trek-things-we-want-to-see-at-san-diego-comic-con-2018/#commentsMon, 16 Jul 2018 02:45:14 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56168We are now heavily in the midst of convention season, and the biggest of the big is happening this week upcoming week in San Diego. With Star Trek: Discovery in production on season 2, the announcement of a new era for Trek on TV, two Kelvin-verse movies in the works, and lots of new merchandise, we may be in for quite a newsy year at Comic-Con. There are things we know are coming, some things we are expecting and a few things we are just holding out hope for. Here is our definitive list of what we most want to learn at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.

1. Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 News And Previews

The biggest Star Trek event happening at Comic-Con this year is undoubtedly the Star Trek: Discovery panel being held in the famous Hall H on Friday at 1:30pm. With CBS booking the biggest room at SDCC, scheduling a post-panel press event and bringing much of the cast and executive producer and showrunner Alex Kurtzman, we are expecting they’ve got some exciting things to share about the second season if Discovery. Our bet is that we will get to see a trailer or some video preview or clip. There should also be some news and details about what is in store for next season, including a release date and maybe more casting revelations, like they did at WonderCon earlier this year and at SDCC last year. People are known to go to extremes to catch all the action in Hall H, but TrekMovie will make it easy with for you, so check back on Friday afternoon for our live coverage.

2. News About Other Star Trek TV Shows

This year’s Comic-Con is also coming on the heels of the huge announcement that Star Trek is being expanded on television. There are no confirmed details on exactly what shows CBS has in store, but rumors have been flying about, including one in which Patrick Stewart could reprise his role as Captain Picard. With CBS booking Hall H, maybe they are at SDCC to make more news beyond Discovery. Alex Kurtzman, who has been put in charge of the expansion of Star Trek on TV, will be there and we are hoping he will throw us some tidbits about his plans.

3. A Closer Look in the Star Trek: Discovery Gallery

Much like they did last year, Star Trek: Discovery is taking over the Michael J. Wolf Fine Arts Gallery during Comic-Con. Last year, we got a ton of first looks at concept art and props and costumes for the Klingons and Starfleet used in Season 1 of Discovery before the show ever aired. This year, it’s the Mirror Universe that will be on display. For one thing, it will be awesome to get a closer look at some of the Season 1 Mirror Universe items, but we’re also hoping for some hints at what is in store for Season 2! There will also be a small shop loaded with some very cool items, including Comic-Con exclusives.

Star Trek: Discovery Gallery at SDCC 2017 shortly before opening

4. The Orville Season 2 News And Previews

It may not be Hall H, but our adopted show The Orville will be putting on a panel in Comic-Con’s third largest space, the Indigo Ballroom (Saturday at 4pm in the Hilton San Diego Bayfront). On the panel will be creator Seth McFarlane and others from the show including Star Trek alumnus and Orville executive producer Brannon Braga. We’re excited to see what is in store for the second season, which is well into production. The show is so clearly a love letter to Star Trek: The Next Generation, and we know of at least one Trek guest star for season two (Robert Picardo), but could there be more? Much like the Discovery panel, we expect to see a season 2 trailer or preview in addition to some news about what’s to come.

Seth MacFarlane at The Orville panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2017

5. What’s Next For Star Trek comics

This year IDW brought their Star Trek: Boldly Go series to a close, as well as John Byrne’s New Visions series. The second Discovery mini-series (Succession) is about to wrap up as well. IDW is hosting their “Big News” panel on Saturday at 1pm in Room 25ABC. There is a good chance that they will talk about their Star Trek line and might even have some news about upcoming Trek comics, perhaps even announcing the next Discovery tie-in. They may also have more to show us from the previously announced two mini-series launching over the next few months (Star Trek: The Next GenerationTerra Incognita and an Animated Series/Transformers crossover).

Photo cover for Succession 4

6. A Look at the Full Star Trek Line from Mego

Famed 1970s toymakers Mego just announced their big return exclusively at Target, and Star Trek is among their featured brands. They will be announcing more details about the new toy lines, including what’s in store for their Trek line, at a Comic-Con panel this Friday at 1pm in Room 32AB. This panel is almost certain to have a good amount of news about the Star Trek toys, so we’re excited to hear what the panelists have to say. They will also be showing off some of the first wave of Mego figures at their booth.

We’re hoping to get a look at the full line of Star Trek toys from Mego, coming back exclusively at Target.

7. Update On Long-awaited Star Trek Toys from Diamond Select

We know Diamond Select is slated to show of their Comic-Con Exclusive Cloaked Romulan Bird of Prey toy this week, and we’re hoping they’ll also announce updates on a few long-awaited products, and maybe they’ll even announce some new ones. For three years we have been waiting for updated details and glimpses for three previously announced Star Trek toys from Diamond Select Toys: Star Trek: The Next Generation role play “Cobrahead” Phaser toy, an electronic U.S.S. Reliant ship from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and a Borg “select” figure diorama. We are hoping SDCC 2018 is when they are finally ready to show us what’s next for Trek and DST.

Diamond Select Star Trek: TNG Phaser toy shown at Toy Fair in 2015

8. Tidbits on Upcoming Star Trek Movies

There has been a lot buzz about the follow up to Star Trek Beyond, and another Star Trek movie from Quentin Tarantino that would follow that up, but these movies are still a long way off from theaters and it is certainly way too early for Paramount to be making a promotional push for Star Trek at SDCC. This year the only Paramount panel is one in Hall H for Bumblebee, which comes out in December, so they aren’t even doing anything for their 2019 movies like Top Gun. However, Trek hope springs eternal, so we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for any surprise Kelvin-verse posters or other hints that might be laying around. Plus it’s possible that some cast or crew associated with the Trek films will be at SDCC promoting more current projects, but can end up talking Trek and revealing some news as well.

How cool would it be if Quentin Tarantino showed up and spilled the beans?

9. What Captain Kirk Signature Whiskey Tastes Like

In the category of “just plain cool and unique” Star Trek products comes the new James T. Kirk Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Silver Screen Bottling Co. The new bourbon will be featured at Comic-Con along with some other spirits that will make their debut. I like my whiskey well enough, and I’d like to imagine that James Kirk’s signature brew would have a mildly peaty, somehow smarmy taste. Plus they’d look great in my Think Geek Starfleet whiskey glasses!

Would Kirk approve of his new signature whiskey?

10. Star Trek Comic-Con Exclusives and Updates From Other Licensees

We’ll definitely be hitting the exhibit hall to look out for some recently announced Star Trek products like new Hallmark ornaments and new ship models from Eaglemoss. In addition, there are a good number of Star Trek themed Comic-Con exclusives this year that we are excited to get our hands on, including a Saru bust by Gentle Giant and some kind of phaser-controlled mood light rock from ThinkGeek (we have to see this one to understand it).

We’ll also be looking to get updates on plans from some of these licensees. One vendor we are particularly eager to drop by is McFarland Toys, who are known for making very high quality products and have announced a line of Star Trek toys and figures, but their first Discovery toy ended being put on hold. Maybe Comic-Con will be an opportunity to get an update on when to expect them on store shelves, if at all.

ThinkGeek’s Star Trek rock mood light… thing

The Exhaustive SDCC Schedule Still To Come

These are just some of the highlights at this year’s Comic-Con. If you’re looking for a reference material to help you plan your week, check back tomorrow for TrekMovie’s exhaustive guide to everything Star Trek at SDCC 2018.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/15/top-10-star-trek-things-we-want-to-see-at-san-diego-comic-con-2018/feed/65Watch Nichelle Nichols Talking About Almost Quitting ‘Star Trek’ In ‘From The Bridge’ Documentaryhttps://trekmovie.com/2018/07/14/watch-nichelle-nichols-talking-about-almost-quitting-star-trek-in-from-the-bridge-documentary/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/14/watch-nichelle-nichols-talking-about-almost-quitting-star-trek-in-from-the-bridge-documentary/#commentsSun, 15 Jul 2018 00:58:28 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56164Last month we reported there was a new documentary coming later this year called From The Bridge, which explores the history of sci-fi and comic book fandom. The doc is hosted by Star Trek’s George Takeiand features interviews with a number of Star Trek luminaries, including the original Uhura, Nichelle Nichols.

A new clip from the doc has just been released featuring Nichols telling the story about how civil rights leader Martin Luther King convinced her not to quit Star Trek.

Nichelle and From the Bridge at SDCC on Thursday

More from of From the Bridge will be shown at Comic-Con at a panel in Ballroom 20 on Thursday, July 19th a 10 am. The panel will be moderated by Greg Grunberg (Star Trek Beyond), and will include doc writer-director Spencer F. Lee, along with Nichelle Nichols, Rod Roddenberry, Kerry O’Quinn, Tom DeSanto, and other special guests.

Nichelle Nichols with From the Bridge director Spencer F. Lee

Another clip and teaser trailer

They also released a new clip from the doc, featuring legendary DC Comics artist Neal Adams.

And in case you missed it, here was the previously released trailer.

From the Bridge is set for a theatrical run in late summer 2018 and will be released on VOD, DVD, and Blu-ray in November.

]]>https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/14/watch-nichelle-nichols-talking-about-almost-quitting-star-trek-in-from-the-bridge-documentary/feed/27Check Out The First Two Images From ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 2 [UPDATED]https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/13/check-out-the-first-two-images-from-star-trek-discovery-season-2/
https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/13/check-out-the-first-two-images-from-star-trek-discovery-season-2/#commentsSat, 14 Jul 2018 02:14:19 +0000https://trekmovie.com/?p=56155UPDATED: CBS has provided us with higher resolution versions of the images first shown in Entertainment Weekly. The images were also confirmed to come from the first episode of the second season of Discovery.

Original article

The special San Diego Comic-Con issue of Entertainment Weekly has a number of exclusive images from upcoming TV shows and movies, including two from the second season of Star Trek: Discovery, along with some commentary from star Sonequa Martin-Green.

Burnam on the Enterprise

The first image shows Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham in a corridor from the USS Enterprise, entering a room.

Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham on USS Enterprise

Martin-Green also talks about the second season, saying:

I can tell you that it’s going to be phenomenal,” she says with a laugh.

First things first: Yes, we’ll meet Captain Pike–to be played by Anson Mount (Hell on Wheels)–and climb aboard the USS Enterprise, as teased in the season 1 finale.

“Beyond that, we’re really going to be digging into family,” says Martin-Green, including the complicated roots of her character Michael Burnham, a human raised on Vulcan by Spock’s parents.

“A lot of questions are going to be raised; some are going to be answered,” she says coyly.

The caption in EW for the above image reads “Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham on the bridge of the Enterprise.” However, it is possible EW doesn’t have that right. The image looks more like Martin-Green coming into a room from a corridor. It appears more likely to be the reverse shot of Burnham entering room 3F (believed to be Spock’s quarters), as seen in the start of production video earlier in the spring.

Michael Burnham in a corridor of the USS Enterprise from the start of production video

Meet Linus

The second image features a new alien science officer played by David Benjamin Tomlinson. UPDATE: New higher resolution image.

David Benjamin Tomlinson as Linus

As we suspected from our analysis of the start of production preview, this confirms Discovery has a new take on the Saurian species. Sonequa Martin-Green confirms this with EW saying:

“His name is Linus, and he’s a Saurian,” says Martin-Green. “We’ve seen his species before, so I’m excited to see if [fans] can pinpoint just exactly where.”